Stoney Point releasing treated wastewater over the next 2 weeks

Residents in Stoney Pointin the Municipality of Lakeshore may be smelling sewage in the air over the next two weeks.

Wastewater from the Stoney Point Sewage Treatment Facility will be treated and released starting Thursday.

It is expected to last 14 days.

The release has no effect on drinking water or local fish populations, nor does it impact the safety of Lake St. Clair for swimming, said Hannah Lebedyk, the municipality's communications and engagement coordinator, in an email to CBC.

"The release of treated wastewater is a routine part of operating wastewater lagoons," she explained.

Prevents overflow of untreated wastewater

"When the lagoons reach their high-level limits, treated wastewater is released to prevent the overflow of untreated wastewater."

The municipality's head of water management said the waste water is treated before being released into the lake.

"To ensure that the treated wastewater effluent meets all regulatory requirements and guidelines, the lagoon is also chemically treated," Jason Barlowwrote to CBC.

The lagoons are located just south of the TremblayBeach conservation area.

Once the levels of the lagoon drop low enough, residents might smell the solids that settle at the bottom," the municipality said.

Resident Dan Demers said he is concerned about the release into the lake.

"I don't think it's very good they're doing that," he said.

"That's not going to be good for the fisherman, and that's not going to be good for, like, even the water because we used to have a clean lake. Now it's not getting no better."

The municipality said the treatment of the wastewater is safe, and it is meeting environment ministry requirements and that was good enough for resident Henry Tian.

New water and wastewater master plan in the works

"As long as you treat it properly, I think, yeah, you can do that," he said.

The municipality is currently working on a water and wastewater master plan.

It includes a new sewage treatment facility worth $70 million.

"We are intending to get rid of our lagoons for the most part from an operational perspective," said Krystal Kalbol, the corporate leader of operations.

"Although they may in detailed design be recommended to hold some of the, you know, overage flows that we get when it's wet weather conditions."

Municipal council will deal with the plan next month.