Creative solutions to seeping sewage

Tackling the single biggest pollutant to the Great Lakes might seem like an enormous task. But when it is our own sewage destroying the waters, we can’t wait on a mountain of money to turn the problem around.

That’s why Ecojustice researcher Liat Podolsky released a green infrastructure report this September.

The investigative report outlines alternative ways municipalities and homeowners can reduce untreated sewage entering the Great Lakes.

It all comes down to antiquated municipal infrastructure. Podolsky’s research uncovered that at least 89 municipalities in Ontario have combined sewer pipes that carry both sewage and stormwater. On wet days, the system overflows, and sewage hits the water untreated. The result is closed beaches, diminished biodiversity and contaminated fish deemed unsafe to eat.

Green roofs, permeable pavement, and downspout disconnections are just a few of the ways to decrease the amount of water that goes down the drain into our combined sewer systems. While municipalities are aware of the problem, upgrading a municipal pipe network is so costly that many communities have been trapped into a disturbing status quo.

Podolsky’s well-received report is helping politicians and homeowners recognize that green solutions can be a viable way of managing outdated infrastructure on a tight budget.

“Green infrastructure is often seen as a nice thing to do but it doesn’t have to come after conventional fixes,” she said.

Click here to download the complete report Green Cities, Great Lakes.