Contents
For other current and recent information about water issues at Trent, see the Trent Sustainability web site.
For older & historical information about Trent water issues previously worked on by the EAB, see the Water Archives section.
Water Bottle-Free
In the past few years many organizations have visited the question of bottled water, and several of those have banned the sale of bottled water on their premises or jurisdiction. Recently, the sale of bottled water on campus has become a hot topic on Trent campus.
Bottled water has many environmental drawbacks, not the least of which is the transportation of water from a distant source via truck, rail, boat, or even by air. This impact is not found in Peterborough tap water, which comes from a local source (the Otonabee River). And there are other environmental problems/questions, such as the creation and disposal of the plastic containers, possible water quality issues from the plastic, water quality monitoring frequency and breadth, and water quality compromising from the plastic containers.
In spring 2009, the EAB endorsed a water bottle-free Convocation in June, and we are happy to say that it was adopted and went well! Reports are that garbage from the Convocation was reduced significantly as a result.
There was also discussion about establishing a water bottle-free campus (or at least water bottle-free zones). Discussion and movement on this is expected to continue in 2009-10.
Local Natural Waters (the Otonabee River)
Trent buildings and grounds management practices do have an effect on the local water quality, but the extent of this effect has not be measured. At the very least there are areas where erosion is allowing sediment to enter the river, resulting in more turbidity.
Below: Otonabee River looking north from Bata Library.
The Otonabee River is subject to a great many stresses, as it is heavily managed:
- It is part of the Trent-Severn Waterway, a national historic site of Canada. The waterway consists of a series of natural waterways, with several locks, which together provide boat route from the north shore of Lake Ontario to the east side of Georgian Bay. There are five locks between Lakefield and Trent University, including lock 22, which is just north of Trent on the Otonabee. This use has several environmental implications for the river, for instance many boats travel through these locks when they are open, most motorized, with all the environmental hazards associated with gasoline powered motors.
- The Otonabee River water level is closely monitored and regulated to allow for boat traffic and power production, among other things. This reduces the frequency and intensity spring and storm flooding (although it does not eliminate it), which serves several purposes in a natural river.
- The Otonabee River channels water flowing from a large drainage basin to the north. Thus the water quality in the Otonabee River is strongly influenced by water quality (and events affecting such) throughout a large area north and west of the Otonabee River.
- Lakefield operates a Water Treatment Plant upstream from Trent University. The operation of this plant is closely monitored, but it does discharge into the Otonabee River, and this may have some impact on the river's water quality south from that facility.
- Most of the river's banks are not natural, and are maintained in many areas. Nassau Mills Road (county rd 32) follows the east side of the river for a large part of its length (in some cases right to the edge of the river), as well as areas with gabian baskets, and the locks themselves. This leaves little freedom for the river to meander naturally.
- The river passes through farmland for most of its length, often right to the bank, and so any drainage from those areas may be high in nutrients due to fertilization and manure.
- The rest of its length is passing mainly through urban and suburban areas, where drainage from roads and impervious surfaces can carry chemicals generated from vehicle use and household activities.
The Otonabee River water quality is monitored regularly by the Otonabee Region Conservation Authority (ORCA), as well as by staff at the Lakefield Water Works plant. See the latest annual report (pdf) by the Peterborough Utilities Commission on the Lakefield Water Works plant.
