Live Sewage Spray on Farmer’s Fields
What are your thoughts about Tiny’s sewage being spread over farmers’ fields.
Candidate Answers (8)
Shit happens. More details to follow.
This is an excerpt from a letter presented to council at the Jan 7th meeting this year. Until 2023, Midland accepted Tiny’s septage in the winter (when it could not be spread on frozen fields). In 2023, faced with major issues at the treatment plant, Midland declared it could not accept any septage from Tiny. Tiny Township now has a historic opportunity to solve this problem once and for all and dramatically improve the water quality of the creeks of Tiny Township and Georgian Bay. The Ontario government is trying to phase out land application of septage so Midland has received a $30 million grant from the province and this past February Tiny received a grant of $3.6 million for the refurbishment of the Midland water treatment plant. There is still an estimated shortfall of $1.34 million and, as one of the main users of the Midland plant, Tiny has agreed in principle to make 3 annual payments of $335,000 to make up the remainder. Tiny’s 2025 budget includes the first payment but this investment needs to guarantee the right of Tiny to send its septage to the Midland plant year round. The final deal between Midland and Tiny must include a provision to ensure that ALL of Tiny’s septage waste will be treated by the refurbished plant, not just that collected in the winter. For the health of all Tiny residents, summer spreading of sewage in Tiny must end with the new plant.
Thanks for that Steve, Do you know who said this: "must include a provision to ensure that ALL of Tiny’s septage waste will be treated by the refurbished plant, not just that collected in the winter."
After some additional investigation this afternoon I have a final answer. Tiny and Midland have an agreement and applied for provincial funding a while ago. It was discovered that Tiny couldn't apply since they'd need to own the asset which isn't possible as it's part of Midlands plant. So Midland applied for additional money and was approved. The province was happy that Midland and Tiny are working together on this. It's all approved and underway.
Here is the current status of the situation:The Background: Midland previously restricted out-of-town waste (including from Tiny Township) due to capacity and aging infrastructure, which caused major logistical issues for Tiny residents.The Upgrade Plan: Both townships secured provincial funding to refurbish and expand the plant's septage receiving station.The Goal: Mayor and Council for Tiny Township are working toward directing 100% of its septage volume to this modernized receiving station once the facility upgrades are fully operational.
My Position on Septic Spreading & Water Safety in Tiny Township When it comes to spreading septic waste on our fields, standard E. coli testing simply isn't enough to give taxpayers the real picture. E. coli tells us that contamination is present, but it doesn't tell us where it came from. 1. Advanced DNA Microbial Source Tracking My top priority is implementing DNA testing (microbial source tracking) to pinpoint the exact origin of contamination in our water—whether it's coming from human waste or local wildlife and waterfowl like geese. We need hard, undeniable data to get to the root cause rather than relying on guesswork. 2. Utilizing Cutting-Edge Research & Local Data We are fortunate right now to have a dedicated scientific research vessel analyzing the lake bed and conducting deep water quality testing in Georgian Bay. Gathering, tracking, and acting on this scientific data is essential. If the results show that field spreading is impacting our water quality and environment, then spreading septic waste on land must be brought to an end. 3. Planning Ahead for Infrastructure Realities If the data requires us to stop land spreading, we must be honest with residents about the infrastructure challenges ahead. Currently, Midland accepts our septic waste during the winter, but not during the summer. The reality is that the vast majority of septic pump-outs happen during the summer months when cottage usage peaks. While winter pump-outs are limited strictly to holding tanks, summer pump-outs cover every weeping bed system across the township. Neither Township staff nor Council currently have an exact count of total holding tanks versus weeping tile systems in Tiny, but we know weeping beds vastly outnumber holding tanks. Transitioning away from field spreading will require serious long-term planning, regional cooperation, and provincial infrastructure funding—and I am committed to facing that challenge with facts, transparency, and action.
I wanted to add this: Subject: Re: Restoring Watercourses and Protecting Our Shoreline Water Systems Protecting and restoring our natural watercourses is critical to the environmental health of Tiny Township, and community involvement is vital to getting it right. I fully support engaging local residents to identify disrupted watercourses and developing a common-sense, fiscally prudent plan to improve these systems. Here is my approach: 1. Establishing a Volunteer Environmental Advisory Committee Local residents often know the land and our shorelines better than anyone. If elected, I intend to establish a Volunteer Environmental Advisory Committee to bring community members, local naturalists, and experienced professionals together to identify compromised streams, wetlands, and drainage corridors. With your interest in watercourse health, I would welcome your involvement on this committee to help guide council's priorities. 2. Demanding Accountability from the SSEA & Partner Agencies Tiny Township contributes over a quarter of a million dollars annually to the Severn Sound Environmental Association (SSEA) for environmental and watershed services. I attended the SSEA flood-risk meeting specifically looking for answers, and there was a complete lack of concrete information directly relating to your question. There was no information presented regarding contaminants or the overall condition of the waterways in those courses at all. When our taxpayers invest hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, we deserve real deliverables and relevant data. If elected, I will work with the SSEA—or explore conservation authority alternatives—to ensure their mandate delivers accurate mapping, addresses watercourse disruptions, and directly tracks contamination risks in our waterways. 3. Scientific Testing: Flooding, Septic, and E. Coli Source Tracking Where watercourses are disrupted, recurrent flooding often threatens nearby septic systems, leading to beach closures and water contamination. While we must watch every dollar, targeted investments in professional scientific testing are necessary: Microbial Source Tracking: We need proper water quality testing to determine the actual source of high E. coli counts—distinguishing whether contamination is originating from natural waterfowl or failing human septic infrastructure. Targeted Solutions: Guessing at water quality problems wastes tax dollars. Having hard scientific data ensures that when the township invests in remediation, we are solving the real source of the issue without burdening ratepayers unnecessarily. 4. A Proven Track Record of Hard Work Watercourse restoration and complex watershed hydrology involve technical challenges, and I do not pretend to have every answer today. However, as demonstrated through my grassroots advocacy on major municipal issues, I am never afraid to dig into the details, ask the tough questions, and work tirelessly alongside experts and residents to learn and find the best solutions. I take the stewardship of our water and shorelines very seriously, and I look forward to working with you to protect them in a way that respects both the environment and our municipal tax dollars. Warm regards, Karen Zulynik Candidate for Deputy Mayor, Tiny Township
Addressing the question. The septage is spread on fields owned by the hauler not farmland. It is not permitted to spread waste from holding tanks or porta potties, that must be processed at a waste facility. The Ministry of Environment licenses all fields and has shown little interest in curtailing the practice. What is happening with Midland is an entirely different issue.