Fenelon Falls, Wastewater system currently bypassing.

If anyone is interested in this, just punch in this topic into your computer. This is nothing new for many communities that border water. What is new is that it is becoming more and more frequent with population growth in Ontario. If we keep building in cottage country, we need more infrastructure. Old systems need to be updated and or expanded. This raw or partially treated sewage ends up in the rivers and lakes more and more frequently. These contaminants may kill fish, fish eggs and other wildlife. We also eat these fish that may be contaminated. I am no marine biologist, but I can read. This has happened several times in this area in recent years. Also this is not an isolated incident in Ontario, it happens in other municipalities. When are the fish and other wildlife going to catch a break. When are we going to start taking better care of Mother nature. Someday that will be it, and many more species will cease to exist. We as humans have left so much garbage in nature, there is too many pollutants to measure them all. And I won't even get into over fishing, which has been happening for a very long time. Fenelon Falls is growing rapidly, and so is Lindsay. Balsam lake is the next big ticket for expansion. Even the Cameron area is expanding, with the new development beside Sturgeon Lake. Scores and scores of year round houses and cottages and of course the new golf course. The Kawartha Lakes region is ripe for the taking. Congratulations and way to go! Another development coming soon to a small village near you. If we all did a little better when we were younger. If past generations had tried a little harder. We'll we can't change the past, but we can change the future. Even a small change will help the future. Time to start thinking smarter.

You are absolutely right Crappeeeman.

I've fished Cameron & Balsam lakes now for well over 65 yrs now. The increased pressure on the water from both fishing and pollution is just stunning.
You can't expect these water to be a clear and clean as they were back in the later 50's or early 60's without serious efforts in place to protect our precious water.

I know all counties wants to significantly increase their tax base, which is normal, but they need to make sure they are equipped to handle it.
As you say, without these needed infrastructure improvements, namely increased waste-water capacity, it just a plain ole money grab.
Who pays...THE ENVIRONMENT, ALWAYS!
So sad!

Cottage country is definitely a challenge with regards to handling growth vs water quality.

Sewage bypasses are nothing new and believe it or not are far less common today than they were in the 50s or 60s. The biggest difference is that now the population is larger so on average the nutrient loading (phosphorus and ammonia nitrogen primarily) to watersheds has gone up in many cases.

Interestingly though on the Grand River (largest watershed in southern Ontario) there has been a steady decline in nutrient loading and corresponding improvement in water quality in the river over the last 10 or 15 years in spite of the population growth.

Might be a little technical for some but this is a good overview of what is going on in that watershed:

https://www.grandriver.ca/media/rjzjqnfr/20...mary-report.pdf

Yes, it's sad to see polution being purposely dumped into the river. And then they say that the spring water melt and run off will dilute it enough. Well even a little pollution is too much. But with all progress comes more people more houses more development. More pollution is inevitable. We can only do are part to keep are vehicles, boats etc in good running order and pick up our garbage. Thanks for the comment Fozzy.

Yes challenges around every corner it seems these days. I have heard better things about the Grand, Nith, Speed and Conestoga rivers. My home base is beside Puslinch Lake, so I have been fishing these rivers 40 plus years. Sometimes years ago my waders and fishing line and even my hands would smell bad packing up the car. I don't think it's as bad as it once was. Thanks for replying and adding some information in your post sir.

It is just very sad and depressing what is happening. So many battles and they rarely end well for the environment and even if one case goes in the right direction, there are so many that will not. Good on you for keeping things like this in everyone's attention.

Anytime. The weirdest thing about this is, I was called and and told about this while in Waterloo. I came up to the family house in Cameron yesterday. Nobody in the neighborhood knew what was going on in Fenelon Falls. It's getting hard to believe the water is safe for swimming, fishing and drinking water systems. There was a notice put out but is that enough, because everyone may not get the notice. Maybe I should move up here permanently and run for Mayor.

Anytime. The weirdest thing about this is, I was called and and told about this while in Waterloo. I came up to the family house in Cameron yesterday. Nobody in the neighborhood knew what was going on in Fenelon Falls. It's getting hard to believe the water is safe for swimming, fishing and drinking water systems. There was a notice put out but is that enough, because everyone may not get the notice. Maybe I should move up here permanently and run for Mayor.

Yeah, that is one way to change things for sure. Lots of info. out there that is also not being shared about those contaminants you had mentioned in other posts (PFAS/PFOS)...teh Canadian gov't announced something about them recently but they are not banning them from some things that absolutely do not need that stuff added. And he Ontario gov't has been withholding lots of info. on these chemicals in the fish we eat even though they have that data but not willing to make them public. I know someone who has been fighting the gov't on this. His main concern is that there are women of child bearing age and children eating fish loaded with these chemicals but do not know...the gov't knows but does not want the public to know for some reason. The allowable intake of these chemicals in water is already near zero (in some US states) so fish, living in such waters and bio-accumulating the stuff...well, that's just going to be bad no matter how you look at it. I would much prefer to know than not know so at least I can change the amount of fish I eat from whichever lake based on the contaminants. Hope they release that data soon.

Here is a new one not to many people think about. Over ten million vehicles on the roads in Ontario on register. Add visitors and big rigs, farm equipment, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles etc. All these have tires that wear down while in use. Decade after decade little bits of rubber left in the environment to wash into ditches, then creeks, then rivers and lakes. Rain leeches these tire chemicals and microplastics into the ground water as well. Progress and the advancement of the human race has many pros and cons. Here is the question. What is more dangerous, the pros or the cons? Answer.......They are both equally dangerous. There is a price to pay for every action that has created a modern technically advanced society. It's difficult to wrap your head around it. Such a beautiful world we live in. So many beautiful sights to see and explore. But so many questions about what we can't see. How bad is it out there really? Will we ever know all the answers to that question?....... Nope.

Just happened in Peterborough as well.

Kind of gross.

Yes, this is a huge ongoing issue in many communities. I was in Peterborough yesterday. Took a family member to the hospital for some repairs. Went for a look at a few of my spring fishing spots today. I was very surprised to see open water in a few places. Levels are very low, even with all rushing water through the gates from lake to lake. Bring on spring.