Ottawa's 'Sewer-Gate' Fiasco (in Munster)

The City's mismanagement of Munster's Wastewater servicing, inside manipulation, abuse of public trust,
and the reckless waste of taxpayer's money is so serious, that it cries out for a Provincial Forensic Audit.

HOME SITE MAP WASTEWATER WOES SOUTH OTTAWA COLLECTOR TRAIL ROAD MANOTICK RICHMOND KING CITY

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WHY THIS WEBSITE?...
  OVERVIEW:  START HERE NEW

HISTORY: OVER 10 YEARS OF BUNGLING 
While 60% of the Lagoon's contents "disappear" before reaching the spray field, the City has wasted over $15,000,000 in hauling fees, conflicting engineering studies, and other digressions, and not one sod has been turned, for a solution to
the problem.i Where will it end?  more...
April, 2002 Update - (Powerpoint Presentation - 1MB)

CITY SHOULD ELIMINATE MUNSTER'S LAGOONS
FOR COST AND HEALTH REASONS
 ...ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEW THREAT OF THE WEST NILE VIRUS?

April 4, 2003 Update: Because of the City's reluctance to candidly disclose the politically sensitive matter: that the pipeline option requires continuous lagoon use, the public has been kept in the
dark on  the fate of these mosquito-breeding cesspools.
more...


WHAT MUNSTER RESIDENTS ASKED FOR:
 
1.) Evaluation of On-site Treatment Technologies.
 2.)
City to get rid of the lagoons.
 3.)
Do it quickly
. 
Resident's Petition to Mayor Chiarelli (Feb '98)
Petition Results & Chiarelli's Reply
Public Comment Sheets (#1)
Public Comment Sheets (#2)
Independent Engineer's Letter to OMB
Results of Munster Survey (April - 2002)
Mechanical Treatment
- the on-site solution that Munster was looking   for: to eliminate the lagoons, keep water in watershed, help the            environment, comply with the RFP, adhere to the official plan, and cost the least!
Chiarelli promises still unfulfilled - four years later!
 
"The use of communal sewage treatment and disposal systems allows for better protection of the environment and public health."  
Ontario Ministry of the Environment.


WHAT COUNCIL ASKED FOR:
1.)
Improve the level of treatment.
2.)
Guarantee to meet the (MOE)
compliance schedule.
3.)
Guarantee the cost.
  more...
March 11/98 Motion of Council

WHAT THE "REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS" (RFP) ASKED FOR:
Design/build proposals (with guaranteed pricing), for advanced treatment of effluent, satisfactory for either:
1.) Land application, or
2.) Subsurface disposal to groundwater
system, or
3.) Water course discharge (i.e., to the Jock
River).
     (No pipeline!)
RFP Advertisement - Ottawa Citizen
Excerpts from the (RFP) Documents

RFP VIOLATIONS
The City accepted non-compliant pipeline bids.
The Bidders' guaranteed prices were tampered with, and
   released to the public, without consulting the bidders.
Inaccurate information about the Bidders' technologies,
  was put before the public.
Insufficient effort was made, in several instances, to get
  accurate information that was necessary for a valid
  
evaluation. 

Advertisement - Request for Proposals

THE "UNSOLICITED" PIPELINE BIDDER WHO WAS SOLICITED
Taggart request for extension of deadline
Taggart Letter, February 16/99

PUBLIC LIAISON COMMITTEE  (PLC) WAS A SHAM Committee credibility and transparency was tainted by manipulation from Goulbourn Mayor, and City Staff.
It's an oxymoron to call it a "Public" Liaison Committee, then bar the 'Public' from attending the proceedings. But that's the least of it's credibility problems
more...

Purpose of the Provincial Planning Act: "To provide for planning processes that are fair by making them open, accessible, timely and efficient." Provincial Planning Policy.

MUNSTER RESIDENTS WERE DUPED
into thinking they were
rid of the Lagoons...
Expert Engineering Evidence at the OMB Hearing showed that
the pipeline option requires year-round use of lagoons, to avoid line from clogging.  more...
 
OFFICIAL PLAN PROVISIONS IGNORED:
1) Treating pollution at source wherever practical.
2) Sewer not to be extended to a Rural area, unless there
    is a health problem.
3) Careful use of limited tax dollars.
4) Not following the Official Plan, in itself, is considered a
    violation of the third provision.
more...
Region's Official Planner had not even looked at the Evaluation Matrix, to assess OP compliance

"Implement pollution prevention measures at sources where practical." Regional Official Plan.

"Preserve the integrity of natural systems by directing land use and development in a way that maintains ecosystem functions over time." Goal: 1.4.8, of the Regional Official Plan.

IN THE EVALUATION MATRIX...
if the cost of the pipeline, alone
--- HAD BEEN DISCLOSED--- it would have placed the pipeline
---dead last--- at the bottom of the Matrix.

Totten Simms Hubicki cost estimate- Feb/98 
 
MORE ON THE EVALUATION MATRIX
a jumble of double meanings, convoluted interpretations, missed criteria, subjective weightings, and public confusion:
Not very scientific! 
more...


If the methodology used in selecting the pipeline alternative is found to be deficient, then the choice of the pipeline alternative founded upon such a deficient methodology is inappropriate.
Mr. N.M. Katary, P.Eng. (Chair of the OMB Hearing): 


THE ONTARIO MUNICIPAL BOARD HEARING
 
Concerned Citizens reached DEEPLY into their own pockets ...to see the Environment, and the public interest served. But the City had its own agenda: a pipeline / lagoon system ...at ANY COST!
 
More on the OMB Public Participation Session
 One Independent Engineer's Viewpoint - Ev202
THE ONTARIO MUNICIPAL BOARD DECISION
OMB told the City to STOP THE PIPELINE WORK, and do the evaluation correctly!  City can't take "No" for an answer, and defies the OMB to this day. more...
Decision - (Full Text) - PDF File Download
 
"The Board prefers the evidence of the land use planner called by the appellant because they were rooted in a thorough understanding of the land use planning implications of the proposed amendment."  N.M. Karary, Chair of OMB Hearing

YOUR FEEDBACK IS IMPORTANT
 
Every segment of our society is adversely affected by the breakdown of accountability and integrity, with so many of our municipal bureaucrats and elected officials. This site addresses serious 'dysfunction' in the hugely expensive area of wastewater infrastructure management.
 We welcome your ideas, suggestions, or any other participation, to help solicit higher levels of governance and/or jurisprudence to address these issues, as they just continue to worsen.

 
CONTACT US 

RESIDENTS KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
$3-M
and $17-M
, and how Munster's cumulative costs are quickly spiraling up to $30M. But, instead of curbing wasteful spending, the City simply short-changes worthy causes, or whines for more Grant support, and user-fees.
Pipeline Cost Estimate: $16.3 Million in 1998

City grapples with $25M shortfall
City manager forecasts $1.5-billion shortfall

YET, THE CITY ---IN ITS HYPOCRISY--- CRIES POOR, when it wastes more than five times the tax dollars it should, on wastewater servicing! 


"Everywhere the imprint of human beings has been stamped on the land in mathematical precision that pays no attention to geographic and biological realities. We act as if our political subdivisions of the land are meaningful and fail to observe the realities of 'bio-regions' ecosystems and watersheds to which living things have evolved and fit"  Dr. David Suzuki: "Time to Change" (p. 158).
 
LINK TO VISITORS' COMMENTS: CLICK HERE
 
Presented to this website in recognition of: 
"your work towards a better Internet and Mankind..."
 
 

NEWEST  INFORMATION & BREAKING NEWS:


WHEN INTEGRITY AND DUE PROCESS IN GOVERNMENT BREAK DOWN
August 2004 more...

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OFFICE OF CHIEF MEDICAL HEALTH OFFICER NOT
ADDRESSING HEALTH THREAT
May 11/04: more
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CITY'S PIPELINE COSTING FOUND BOGUS
more
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MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS INVITED TO TAKE "SANITY CHECK" over their risky forcemain plan. more
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COUNCIL RATIFIES STAVINGA/STAFF-LED "FRAUD" AGAINST OMB RULING & PUBLIC INTEREST: more...  "Something smells about this process, and it's not just the sewage!" - Councillor Rainer Bloess at City Council Meeting, June 11, 2003.
 
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STAVINGA LEADS ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT FALSIFIED STAFF REPORT:  REVIVING  PIPELINE WITH BOGUS DATA  May 27, 2003  more...
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O
MB-ORDERED, THIRD EVALUATION ELIMINATES CITY'S PIPELINE-LAGOON OPTION AT MUNSTER
December 17, 2002: On-site treatment recommended:  more...
...WHILE CITY KEEPS SPENDING ON PIPELINE: more
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OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES MAKES REJECTION OF PIPELINE SEEM OBVIOUS
:  November 25, 2002: All objective evaluations to date have identified clear rationales for a modern on-site treatment system, at Munster. The Pipeline/Lagoon option has far too many negatives. more
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COUNCILLOR'S GARBLED ATTEMPT TO DISCREDIT WEBSITE BACKFIRES
 November 21, 2002:  more...
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CITY DELIVERS MUNSTER A FOUL PREVIEW OF WHAT'S IN STORE
...if stuck with the pipeline-lagoon option. October 30, 2002:  more...
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RESULTS OF (JULY) RICHMOND SURVEY: 
August 14, 2002:
Clear message sent: Munster pipeline is too risky. Public wants a treatment plant in Munster, to keep water in the watershed, and benefit the environment.  more...
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MAJOR SEWAGE FORCEMAIN BREAK IN RICHMOND

June 19, 2002:
"If a brand new section of pipeline ---just a few dozen metres in length--- ruptures TWICE, in its first seven months, imagine the risk created by an 11-km, high-pressure forcemain span through the Fen, and past 140 homes with shallow wells!" more...

View most recent: "Visitor Comments"NEW  Jan. 3 / 05

RECENT CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS:

SUPERIOR COURT FINDS AGAINST CITY
October 29, 2001: The City's fourth attempt to nullify the work of the OMB ---this time, in the form of a Superior Court challenge, requesting "Leave to Appeal" the OMB Decision, in Divisional Court, was turned down by Justice Panet.  more...

CITY APPOINTS R. V. ANDERSON TO DO THIRD
EVALUATION

February 26, 2002: The results of the City's ---already tainted--- closed selection process for an evaluator to do its "$50,000" re-evaluation, turns up a former consultant on the Munster wastewater issue: R.V. Anderson for a sweet $162,827. more... 
Environmental Committee Meeting - Feb 26/02

COUNCILLOR "KNOWS" PREDETERMINED SOLUTION February 27, 2002:
Is Councillor Munter confirming his prior knowledge of a pipeline 'FIX'?  more...

INCORRECT STATEMENTS MADE TO PRESS
March 2, 2002: Councillor Stavinga and Brian Gray, P.Eng, are challenged on inaccuracies reported in newspaper.
more...

PREDICTOR FOR MUNSTER:
March 30, 2002. Two recent spills at Richmond Lagoons. more...

73% OF MUNSTER HOUSEHOLDS FILL OUT SURVEY
April 5, 2002:
The highest sampling conducted so far. Survey Results
April 29, 2002:  Background Information Bulletin
I



OTTAWA HOLDS THE TITLE AS "THE SECOND WORST POLLUTER OF WATER IN ONTARIO" ---
POLLUTION WATCH
The Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy along with the Canadian Environmental Law Association and the Canadian Environmental Defence Fund have identified the City of
Ottawa's own wastewater treatment centre, in Gloucester, as the second worst municipal polluter of water in Ontario ...and deteriorating.
  Upstream view of Ottawa River at the Greens Creek sewage outlet in centre of watercourse.  
(CLICK HERE to enlarge)
Photograph by Dan Brunton -
August, 1991
Pollution Watch Report on Ottawa-Gloucester

WATER CRISIS CAUSED BY IGNORANCE, GREED
An opportunity to turn the environmental problem of Munster's wastewater treatment into a panacea for this aquatic habitat, is ignored by the City.  CLICK HERE

"Water transfers between different watersheds and different jurisdictions should be banned outright" 
Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy (CIELAP)

INTIMIDATION OF A WITNESS
 
When a powerful company uses its might, (and misuses the Courts), to suppress evidence, by litigating against an ordinary Citizen, who has important evidence against that company: it's called a "SLAPP Action" (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation).
 While the City of Ottawa, defiantly, speeds ahead with its plans for a Pipeline-Lagoon System for Munster ---the City's hired Consultant has sued an ordinary Ratepayer, for
$4,200,000, in order to suppress his evidential PROOF of a 'Pipeline Fix'. more...
 
SLAPP Actions

STAFF OUT OF CONTROL? - A Catch-22
The City relies on Engineering staff for 'expert' advice on engineering matters. City staff 'hand-pick' ---often without tenders--- Consulting Engineers most likely to tell them what they want to hear. (This is "Transparency"?) City Council ---not being expert, then rubber stamps what the engineers have produced. The public interest is ignored, every time it varies from the Staff's 'preferred option'.
Richmond Lagoon Violation of C of A
OC Transpo's 'very expensive outhouse'
OC Transpo toilets drain $100,000 more

ENGINEERING ETHICS-101:
This professionally-written paper on municipal request for bids, is a 'must read' for every Citizen concerned by the questionable practices currently conducted in municipal engineering contracts. The paper's  recommendations should be considered the 'minimum standard' of any Engineering firm, desirous of improving the  integrity, credibility and ethics of both their own companies, and of the Engineering Profession, itself. Even further: these recommendations should be strictly enforced by the Provincial Municipal Act, and by the various Professional Engineering Societies.  View Full Paper...
IS THE MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT (MOE) PART OF THE PROBLEM?
 
The MOE says, in effect: "Stop polluting, OR ELSE!" ...then lets them keep polluting. 
 more...
 
March 11/98 MOE compliance Schedule
 Richmond Lagoon Violation of C of A
 National Post article - Jan 23/02
 
RICHMOND FEN
Franktown Road...
City's planned pipeline route puts Fen at risk.
CLICK HERE

POLITICAL INTERFERENCE AT EVERY LEVEL: MAYBE PRIVATIZATION IS PART OF THE SOLUTION. more...
Success story
Privatizing water works: by E. Brubaker
Private...best for Halifax: by E. Brubaker

HOW DO ON-SITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS RATE?
A few municipalities have stepped out of the 'dark ages' of wastewater management, to embrace the 'new technology approach' ...and seem highly satisfied. more...
 
RBC - Success Stories
 
Award Winning 'Snowfluent' Technology

HELPFUL LINKS:
 
EPA-Response to Congress- Benefits of Decentralized Wastewater   Treatment Systems
 
Professional Engineers of Ontario
 
Sierra Legal Defence Fund (SLDF)
 Canadian Environmental Law Assn. (CELA)
 CIELAP
 Control Game
 
Environment Probe

 Pollution Watch Survey: ROPEC

 Who's Watching Our Waters
 
SLDF Handbook-How to Gather Evidence...
 
Environmental Bill of Rights
 
SLAPP Actions
NEW
 
Friends of the Jock River
 Ottawa RiverKeepers

Local News and Views:
    Political Focus Page

HOME   |   SITE MAP   |   WASTEWATER WOES   |   SOUTH OTTAWA COLLECTOR   |   TRAIL ROAD   |   MANOTICK  |   RICHMOND   |   KING CITY

This site was compiled by Concerned Citizens for the purpose of alerting the public to serious waste of our tax dollars through
wastewater infrastructure mismanagement, in addition to legal, and other abuses, perpetrated by the City of Ottawa.

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OttawaSewergateFiasco.com