Over 30 families may soon need to find new homes as a result of Algoma Public Health ordering the River Valley Park be closed due to a health hazard.
In August of 2014, a Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change inspection found the sewage works had been altered without approval at the trailer park north of Sault Ste. Marie, said MOECC spokesperson Gary Wheeler.
As a result of the alteration, said Wheeler, the sewage works has failed and and cannot handle the sewage flows generated by the mobile homes in the park, leading to regular breakouts.
The inspection came as a result of the park changing ownership in June of 2014, when it began operating as River Valley Park, Inc.
Because it handles over 10,000 litres a day, the septic system at the park is considered a commercial system and requires MOECC approval to operate and discharge.
“Over time, the owner has failed to fully comply with multiple ministry orders requiring him to make the necessary repairs,” said Wheeler.
Although the park itself is owned and operated by River Valley Park, Inc., some if not all of the homes within it are individually owned and many are occupied year round.
Algoma Public Health became involved just over a year ago, said John Bouma, manager of environmental health and communicable disease control with (APH).
Contact with human sewage is considered a health hazard, said Bouma, because it can contain dangerous pathogenic bacteria and viruses.
“We have been trying to find solutions to this rather large system on site, but that system has failed and there is sewage being discharged through the immediate environment putting people and the environment at risk,” said Bouma.
The risk lies not just with the residents of the park, but also potential for contamination of the adjacent river, said Bouma.
The final order to have the park closed came after years of unsuccessful attempts to have the owner of the trailer park fix the septic system.
“We have been working with the owner for a number of years now and we are giving him time to remediate but so far efforts have not been successful, so the order does stipulate the system shall be fixed by the end of August or the park shall close,” said Bouma.
Michael Mantha, MPP for the Algoma—Manitoulin riding the park is situated in, said he was surprised to hear how bad the situation had become before it was brought to his attention only this week when homeowners facing eviction began contacting his office.
“I am not sure what the issue is, why the owner hasn’t complied with the requirements — if it’s a financial situation — that’s some of the questions I have. It sounds like it’s pretty bad,” said Mantha.
“If it’s a financial hardship this owner has, let’s have that discussion but my biggest concern is the 32 families that are there. With the limited housing that is available, we have to make sure if we can repair this, let’s get it done,” he said.
Bomua said APH has given plenty of notice to the homeowners in the park over the last six months, including going door-to-door.
“They have been given plenty of time to relocate. We understand it’s a serious matter — that’s why we have been working with the owner for a long time to give him time to remediate the situation. We don’t want to displace people, but it comes down to the fact we can’t have people living in an environment where they are at risk. At some point the decision has to be made. We are still hopeful that we can find a solution, but it’s not APH or MOECC’s job to do that, it’s the owner who has to make an application and fix the system. It’s really in his ballpark,” said Bouma.
The APH order, which included the Aug. 31 closure date, was issued on June 8, giving residents less than three months notice to find new accommodation.
“We are where we’re at because the system did not get fixed,” said Bouma.
Reached by email Friday, park owner Harjeet Dusanjh said he has appealed the closure order.
