Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario government is providing $1.1 million to Richmond Hill for a project aimed at protecting the water and wastewater systems along Patterson Creek.
This funding will go towards the South Richvale Valleyland Sewer Protection Project, located in South Richvale Valleyland, south of Carrville Road and east of Bathurst Street.
The project includes stabilizing the creek banks to help prevent erosion and enhance the creek’s capacity to manage severe weather events, such as heavy rains. Additionally, this work aims to safeguard underground sanitary sewers from being exposed due to erosion, which lowers the chances of pipe damage or cracks that could lead to sewage spilling into Patterson Creek.
Construction efforts will also minimize sediment entering the creek and create better habitats for aquatic species like the endangered Redside Dace.
This funding comes from Ontario’s Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program Health and Safety Water Stream, which allocates over $875 million to municipalities and First Nations for building, upgrading, and restoring aging water, wastewater, stormwater, and flood-control systems.
Patterson Creek is part of the Don River watershed that flows southward into Lake Ontario.
Protection will be provided for a sanitary sewer pipe, a York Region sanitary trunk sewer, stormwater outlets, and a local pedestrian trail. Streambank erosion has been identified as a threat to underground sanitary sewers; any potential failure could result in sewage being released into the environment.
Richmond Hill is collaborating with York Region, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and the Ontario government on this initiative.
The total projected cost of this project is $1.5 million. Construction has already begun and is expected to finish by October 2026, with restoration plantings continuing into 2027.
Source link
