Thornbury Wastewater Treatment Plant at sunset

Town-Wide Wastewater Master Plan Environmental Assessment

On this page:
1. Project Updates
2. Public Consultation

The Wastewater Master Plan Environmental Assessment (EA) will provide a comprehensive evaluation of the Town’s wastewater system, and will identify improvements and long-term servicing strategies to support the Town’s forecasted population growth.

The Town will be interested in the following:

How are progressive municipalities developing innovation programs to evaluate and pilot new technologies and what are the keys to their success?
How are the new technologies impacting the customer?
In an environment where there is a changing climate, what should municipalities be doing in the terms of long-term planning and operational needs?
What solutions are available to help municipalities plan, monitor and manage critical wastewater assets?
Undertaking flow monitoring to gain better knowledge of the Town’s Inflow and Infiltration issue, and identify and prioritize areas that should be addressed.

Through public consultation and agency review, the Town will pursue innovative, progressive and emerging ideas that consider economy, environment, governance, and people in order to achieve a high quality of life for all citizens and businesses.

Why Now?
The Wastewater Master Plan will identify and prioritize projects that will keep the Town’s wastewater system operating to effectively serve current residents and support forecasted population growth.

Project Updates

June 26, 2025 - Final Report and Appendices

The Town has received the final Project File Report for the Wastewater Master Plan Municipal Class EA (MCEA). The preferred alternatives include:

Gravity sewer upgrades in Thornbury and Craigleith, including upgrades to the Little Beaver River Siphon (all projects exempt under MCEA)
Sewage pumping station (SPS) upgrades at the Mill Street SPS, Alta, SPS and Craigleith Main Sewage Lift Station (all projects exempt or approved under previous MCEAs)
New sewage lift station at the Craigleith Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) (approved under previous MCEA)
Future WWTP expansions or upgrades (will be subject to subsequent Schedule C MCEA).

View Final Report and Appendices

The presentation deck and recording of the Public Information Centre held on February 26, 2025 are now available to view in the Public Consultation section below.
The Public Information Centre included a presentation of the preliminary preferred servicing alternatives selected to address the system deficiencies identified at the first Public Information Centre. A follow-up Staff Report with a summary of the comments and feedback received on the preliminary preferred alternatives will be taken to a future meeting of Committee of the Whole. Comments and questions can be sent at any time to the Town's Project Manager at managerwww@thebluemountains.ca. All comments received prior to the report due date will be included in an attachment along with the follow-up Staff Report.
Staff have finalized a date for the second Public Information Centre (PIC) regarding the Town-Wide Wastewater Master Plan Environmental Assessment. This PIC will be held virtually on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 beginning at 5:00 p.m. to present proposed servicing alternatives, and to gather input from members of the public. The meeting will include a public comment and question period. All those interested in the project are invited to attend. Pre-registration is required.
View Notice
J.L. Richards has been working to develop a list of potential servicing solutions to resolve the deficiencies identified in the Town's wastewater conveyance and treatment systems. They've completed an initial screening and evaluation of the servicing options, and are in the process of finalizing the details of the preliminary preferred servicing solutions.
These preliminary solutions will be presented for public comment at the next Public Information Centre which is currently expected to be held in late winter or early spring of 2025. The Public Information Centre will also include a preliminary project implementation plan to identify costing and proposed project phasing for the preliminary preferred solutions. a Notice of Public Information Centre will be posted to the project page, the Town's website newsroom and emailed to project subscribers.
Staff Report CSOPS.24.040 was presented to Committee of the Whole on July 2, 2024. The report provided a summary of the comments and feedback that were received through the first Public Information Centre, and was presented for information purposes only. Committee voted 6-0 in favour of receiving the report. This decision is scheduled to be adopted by Council at its meeting on Monday, July 15.
Presentation of the report begins at the 4:31:30 mark of the meeting recording.
View Meeting Recording
The presentation deck and recording of the Public Information Centre held on May 24, 2024 are now available to view in the Public Meetings & Information Centres section below.
The Public Information Centre provided an opportunity for attendees to review the scope and goals of the study, and learn about some of the data collection efforts currently underway. The project team will be presenting a follow-up Staff Report regarding the meeting to Town Council in the future.
Staff have finalized a date for the first Public Information Centre (PIC) regarding the Town-Wide Wastewater Master Plan Environmental Assessment. This PIC will be held virtually on Thursday, May 23, 2024 beginning at 5:00 p.m. to review the scope of the project and gather input from stakeholders and residents. The meeting will include a public comment and question period. All those interested in the project are invited to attend. Pre-registration is required.
View Notice

Canadian Union of Postal Workers Strike Impacts

Town-Wide Wastewater Master Plan Environmental Assessment

Why Now?

Project Updates

June 26, 2025 - Final Report and Appendices

Public Consultation