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Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


The nation's capital - a repeat offender

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

On July 31, 6.5 million litres of sewage (6,500 cubic metres) ran into the Ottawa River after a two-foot by four-foot steel plate stuck in a shaft carrying sewage to a treatment plant in Gloucester.

The plant went into bypass mode, dumping sewage into the river behind the Prime Minister's residence.

Because of the spill, Ottawa's medical officer of health closed Petrie Island beaches for the Civic Holiday weekend, citing full body contact with the river as "unwise."

The spill took place at the Keefer regulator, where there was heavy construction that is supposed to stem the flow of sewage into the river. The failure of the Keefer regulator was blamed for a billion-litre spill in 2006. The city was fined $560,000 in 2008 because it didn't report the spill when it was discovered.

Ottawa plans to build two large tanks to hold storm water by 2013 at a cost of $45 million, part of a $200-million, five-year plan to upgrade sewage treatment in the city. In late August, Ottawa mayor Larry O'Brien told a local AM radio station that federal and provincial governments had previously approved Ottawa's sewage system, which is designed to dump sewage into the Ottawa River when it rains heavily.

O'Brien said that a long-term commitment was required from both governments to raise the $2 billion required to separate storm and sanitary sewers. BF

Current Issue

June/July 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

Ontario crops respond to summer heat

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

According to the OMAFA Field Crop News team, Ontario field crops are showing rapid development as summer-like temperatures have dominated late June early July. The warm spell has accelerated growth and helped reduce the heat unit deficit from a cool spring. Corn fields have seen a burst... Read this article online

Canada’s Place in Global Food System Resilience

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Canada’s food system is facing serious pressure due to global supply chain issues, climate change, and rising food prices. According to a KPMG report, bold and united action is needed now to make Canada’s agriculture sector more resilient and self-reliant. With the global population... Read this article online

Calf Auction Raises Funds for Youth

Monday, June 30, 2025

Wyatt Westman-Frijters from Milverton won a heifer calf named Ingrid through a World Milk Day promotion by Maplevue Farms and a local Perth, Ontario radio station. Instead of keeping the calf, 22-year-old Westman-Frijters chose to give back to the community. The calf was sent to the... Read this article online

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