CONNECTING TO THE WATERSHED: A UNIVERSITY-COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP IN HAMILTON, ONTARIO

Hamilton Harbour, on the western tip of Lake Ontario, is dominated by two large steel mills and a history of industrial and municipal pollution. A remediation plan begun thirty years ago as a citizen-government-industry partnership is transforming the watershed. One of the remaining challenges concerns the municipal wastewater treatment plant. Combined sewage and storm water pipes in the oldest parts of the city trigger outflow of screened sewage directly into the harbour several times each year, after heavy rains. Pharmaceutical chemicals are another emerging threat to clean-up efforts.

Students in a third-year environmental science course produced informational posters aimed at local residents to help reduce the amount of water sent to the wastewater treatment plant and/or improve the quality of the water being treated. Students partnered with a community not-for-profit group that assesses and promotes clean-up projects in the watershed. The community group toured the student poster session and selected posters to be presented at the community group’s annual general meeting.

Students were surveyed to gauge the effect of the project on their environmental attitudes and everyday habits. Preliminary results suggest that many students made a strong connection between the project and their everyday water use. Stakeholders with the community organization were interviewed and their perceptions of the usefulness of the project in furthering their goals will also be explored.