The Town of The Blue Mountains is responding to an incident involving the Thornbury Wastewater Treatment Plant Outfall Project, including a detached section of outfall pipe at the Lora Bay staging area and damage to a turbidity curtain at the offshore construction site near Grey Street North and Bay Street East.
Yesterday evening, Town staff were notified that a section of pipe being prepared for installation as part of the project had become detached from its mooring during a period of significant wave activity on Georgian Bay. One end of the pipe was pushed toward the shoreline near Lake Drive, while the opposite end remained secured on land within the staging area at Lora Bay Park.
Separately, at the active offshore construction site near the Grey Street North and Bay Street East shoreline in Thornbury, sections of the turbidity curtain surrounding the dredging and outfall installation area sustained damage and are no longer functioning as a continuous barrier. Portions of the curtain were subsequently washed ashore east of Grey Street North.
Upon notification, the Town's contractor and project consultant attended the site to assess conditions. Due to overnight weather and wave conditions, it was determined that it was not safe for crews to undertake recovery operations immediately. Crews returned to the site this morning and have been working to secure the pipe, assess the extent of the damage, and determine what corrective actions may be required. The contractor has been directed to notify all applicable regulatory agencies and continue monitoring site conditions, while Town staff and the Town's consultant remain on site overseeing response efforts and assessing next steps.
The outfall project is a critical component of the Thornbury Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion and will allow the facility to operate at its approved treatment capacity. As part of the construction process, sections of pipe are assembled on shore and floated into position before final installation offshore.
The Town recognizes that residents have questions about this incident and the project's broader construction impacts. A full review of the circumstances that led to the pipe becoming detached will be undertaken. The Town's immediate priority is securing the pipe, recovering damaged materials where it is safe to do so, and ensuring all required environmental monitoring and regulatory reporting continue.
The turbidity curtain is designed to help limit the movement of suspended sediment generated during construction activities. While damage to the curtain has occurred, monitoring and assessment activities remain ongoing to determine any resulting impacts.
The Town will continue to provide updates as conditions allow and as additional information becomes available.
For more information, please contact:
Allison Kershaw
Manager of Water and Wastewater Services
(519) 599-3131 ext. 226