Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant Climate Change Resiliency

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About this project

In 2024 and 2025, 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, 148 trees are to be removed around the Greenway WWTP, including 5 trees over 50cm at-breast-height. These will be replaced as part of the City’s tree replacement programs.

  2. Thames Valley Parkway (TVP) / Terry Fox Parkway: At a certain phase of the project, it is expected that a closure of Terry Fox Parkway and the TVP will be required to facilitate work along the north side of Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant. At this point “No Through Access” in either direction will be possible through the active construction zone for the safety of the public. It is anticipated that the closure could be as long as 6 months, starting in late 2024 and lasting until spring of 2025.

  3. Greenway Off-leash Dog Park: Due to the anticipated closure of Terry Fox Parkway and TVP, it is expected that the off-leash dog park will also have to be closed for the duration of the work. Plans for a temporary alternate off-leash dog park nearby are being made, more details to come.



A Public Update Meeting is being planned, details of which will be shared soon.


About this project

In 2024 and 2025, 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, 148 trees are to be removed around the Greenway WWTP, including 5 trees over 50cm at-breast-height. These will be replaced as part of the City’s tree replacement programs.

  2. Thames Valley Parkway (TVP) / Terry Fox Parkway: At a certain phase of the project, it is expected that a closure of Terry Fox Parkway and the TVP will be required to facilitate work along the north side of Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant. At this point “No Through Access” in either direction will be possible through the active construction zone for the safety of the public. It is anticipated that the closure could be as long as 6 months, starting in late 2024 and lasting until spring of 2025.

  3. Greenway Off-leash Dog Park: Due to the anticipated closure of Terry Fox Parkway and TVP, it is expected that the off-leash dog park will also have to be closed for the duration of the work. Plans for a temporary alternate off-leash dog park nearby are being made, more details to come.



A Public Update Meeting is being planned, details of which will be shared soon.

  • 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: 05 Dec 2023, 11:26 AM