Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant Flood Protection Project

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About this project

In 2024 through until 2026, the City of London will be making improvements at the Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant to improve flood protection and our resiliency to climate change. These improvements were identified through a Schedule B Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA).

The construction work will mainly consist of building an earth berm around the perimeter of the Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant but will use walls in certain locations due to the nature of the terrain and footprint limitations.

This work will require a significant amount of large construction machinery (i.e., excavators, loaders, dump trucks and cranes). It will impact the surrounding areas and some city amenities will be disrupted.


Impacts:

  1. Trees: To complete the flood protection measures, 99 trees were removed around the Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant , including 5 trees over 50cm at-breast-height. These will be replaced as part of the City’s tree replacement programs.
  2. Terry Fox Parkway: A closure of the Terry Fox Parkway (the road next to Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant ) will be required to facilitate work along the north side of Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant. “No Through Access” for vehicles in either direction will be necessary for the safety of the public as this will be an active construction zone. The Terry Fox Parkway is anticipated to be closed temporarily beginning January 13, 2025. Due to ongoing construction activities near the Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant, there may be elevated noise levels in the area. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience during this work.
  3. Thames Valley Parkway (TVP): It is expected that the Thames Valley Parkway will remain open during construction. However, due to ongoing construction activities near the Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant, there will be elevated noise levels in the area. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience during this work.
  4. Greenway Off-leash Dog Park: There will be no vehicle access to the Greenway off-leash dog park during the closure of the Terry Fox Parkway. The dog park will remain open throughout the construction project. However, during the road closure, the dog park will only be accessible by foot or bicycle via the Thames Valley Parkway.


Above: An image of the earth berms being constructed around Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant (fall 2024)



Public update meeting

The City hosted a public update meeting on January 11 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m at City Hall about the Greenway and Adelaide Wastewater Treatment Plant Flood Protection Projects. Residents were invited to attend and speak with the project team to learn more about the project, ask questions, and share comments. You can still contact the project team through this webpage to share comments or ask questions.



About this project

In 2024 through until 2026, the City of London will be making improvements at the Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant to improve flood protection and our resiliency to climate change. These improvements were identified through a Schedule B Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA).

The construction work will mainly consist of building an earth berm around the perimeter of the Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant but will use walls in certain locations due to the nature of the terrain and footprint limitations.

This work will require a significant amount of large construction machinery (i.e., excavators, loaders, dump trucks and cranes). It will impact the surrounding areas and some city amenities will be disrupted.


Impacts:

  1. Trees: To complete the flood protection measures, 99 trees were removed around the Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant , including 5 trees over 50cm at-breast-height. These will be replaced as part of the City’s tree replacement programs.
  2. Terry Fox Parkway: A closure of the Terry Fox Parkway (the road next to Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant ) will be required to facilitate work along the north side of Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant. “No Through Access” for vehicles in either direction will be necessary for the safety of the public as this will be an active construction zone. The Terry Fox Parkway is anticipated to be closed temporarily beginning January 13, 2025. Due to ongoing construction activities near the Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant, there may be elevated noise levels in the area. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience during this work.
  3. Thames Valley Parkway (TVP): It is expected that the Thames Valley Parkway will remain open during construction. However, due to ongoing construction activities near the Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant, there will be elevated noise levels in the area. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience during this work.
  4. Greenway Off-leash Dog Park: There will be no vehicle access to the Greenway off-leash dog park during the closure of the Terry Fox Parkway. The dog park will remain open throughout the construction project. However, during the road closure, the dog park will only be accessible by foot or bicycle via the Thames Valley Parkway.


Above: An image of the earth berms being constructed around Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant (fall 2024)



Public update meeting

The City hosted a public update meeting on January 11 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m at City Hall about the Greenway and Adelaide Wastewater Treatment Plant Flood Protection Projects. Residents were invited to attend and speak with the project team to learn more about the project, ask questions, and share comments. You can still contact the project team through this webpage to share comments or ask questions.


  • Background

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    The Government of Canada created a $2 billion Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund intended to support large infrastructure projects that, among other things, contribute to the resilience of critical infrastructure in the face of increased risks of damage due to climate change. The City proposed the construction of flood protection at the Adelaide and Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plants as major projects that fit this description, and the City’s proposal was accepted.

    The City of London owns and operates five wastewater treatment plants. The Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant, located at 109 Greenside Avenue, is the City’s largest plant and treats approximately 60% of the wastewater produced in London. Wastewater generally flows by gravity to these plants for treatment prior to discharge to the Thames River, and as a result, these plants are situated immediately adjacent to the river in low-lying areas. Many of the essential treatment plant components are located within the floodplain.

    With climate change, the City of London and other communities are experiencing more frequent and intense wet weather events and flooding. Flooding is a concern at the City’s wastewater treatment plants for two main reasons:

    • Damage of treatment plant components, including equipment and tanks, due to inundation of rising river levels at these sites, and
    • Environmental impacts associated with the bypass of untreated or partially treated wastewater for several days following an intense wet weather event.

    Flood barriers, such as berms and floodwalls, provide a potential approach to provide flood protection at the Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant. A flood barrier was recently constructed at the Vauxhall Wastewater Treatment Plant.

    Wastewater treatment plants discharge treated water into adjacent watercourse either by gravity or by pumping. During severe flooding, high water levels in the adjacent watercourse prevent gravity discharge. Wastewater treatment plants that rely only on gravity discharge, such as Greenway, cannot fully function during severe flood events.

    Pumping stations allow treated water to be discharged to watercourses when water levels are too high for gravity drainage. As a result, wastewater treatments plants can fully function during severe flooding which reduces the environmental impacts of these events. For instance, improving treatment capabilities during severe floods supports the City’s commitment to the Lake Erie Domestic Action Plan by reducing phosphorus discharge to the Thames River.

Page last updated: 07 Jan 2025, 03:13 PM