Hamilton continues Chedoke Creek sewage clean-up at Cootes Paradise

The Ontario government has approved the City of Hamilton’s plan to clean up Cootes Paradise as part of the provincially mandated remediation of the Chedoke Creek sewage leak.

24 billion litres of sewage and untreated wastewater spilled into Chedoke Creek from a partially opened gate on a combined sewage overflow (CSO) tank between 2014 and 2018. Water from the creek flows into Cootes Paradise.

The first part of the provincial order involved dredging Chedoke Creek this summer. The second will take place over the coming months and includes remediation and mitigation works to offset the impacts associated with nutrient loading to Cootes Paradise and the Western Hamilton Harbour Area.

The City’s work plan includes one-time and annual projects that involve further dredging and large-scale floating vegetative mats.

Small-scale works will also be undertaken this summer aimed to improve the water quality of Chedoke Creek and Princess Point. The City says a small-scale aeration system and floating treatment wetlands will be installed “in the next two weeks.”

The small-scale aeration system will be installed close to the Kay Drage Park bridge, while the 800 square feet of floating treatment wetlands will be installed just inside the Princess Point Embayment,

The full plan can be found online: hamilton.ca/government-information/chedoke-creek-spill-remediation-activities