ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND PROTECTION

Background 

Part of the mandate of Manitoba Conservation is to ensure a high level of environmental quality for present and future generations of Manitobans.   The Department operates under the authority of a number of acts and regulations which relate to water and water quality protection.  Among these are The Environment Act and The Public Health Act.   

Manitoba Conservation has four operating divisions.  Three of these divisions are involved in aspects of watershed management for the Stephenfield Lake Watershed.  The Operations Division operates through six regional offices, providing enforcement services for resource and environmental issues, and emergency response services for environmental accidents.  This division also administers the regulation governing livestock manure.  The watershed is with the Department’s Red River region.  The Water Branch of the Programs Division collects and analyses water quantity and water quality data, and develops standards and guidelines for water and terrestrial quality.  The Environmental Approvals Branch of the Environmental Stewardship Division administers the environmental approval process for projects which may degrade the environment.  

Municipal Water Treatment 

There are four municipal water treatment plants within the study area.  Three use local groundwater sources, and the fourth is the Stephenfield plant operated by the Pembina Valley Water Cooperative.   Each of these plants produces a wastewater stream requiring disposal.  The disposal of water treatment plant wastewater is regulated by the Environment Act.

 The Stephenfield plant draws raw water from the Stephenfield Reservoir, and provides 25% of Carman’s water supply, as well as serving portions of the RMs of Dufferin, Grey, Morris, Roland and Thompson. 

There are a number of small water treatment systems in the watershed as well, serving colonies and Stephenfield Provincial Park.  These systems are not regulated by the Environment Act.  All public and semi public water treatment and supply systems must meet Public Health Act requirements.

Wastewater Treatment 

Wastewater treatment lagoons operate in five locations, as listed below.  All lagoons are standard aerobic oxidation lagoons.

For the first four lagoons, discharges may be made between May 16 and October 31.  For Stephenfield Park, discharges may be made between September 16 and October 31.

Municipal Waste Disposal Grounds 

Municipal waste disposal grounds operate at two locations in the watershed.  Both are Class 3 waste disposal grounds, serving less than 1000 residents.

Livestock 

Livestock facilities are controlled by regulations which prohibit discharges beyond the owners’ property and prohibit discharges to streams.  Livestock operations of 400 animal units and over must have a manure management plan approved by the Department, and annual inspections and reporting are components of the Department’s manure management program.    Livestock operations with permits from Manitoba Conservation are listed in the attached table.  In addition to these facilities, there are a large number of small livestock operations in the watershed. 

Petroleum Storage 

Petroleum storage facilities are regulated under the Dangerous Goods Handling and Transportation Act  (Manitoba Regulation 188/2001 respecting the Storage and Handling of Petroleum Products and Allied Products.).  Underground and above ground storage tank systems with capacities greater than 5000 litres must meet regulatory requirements.  These facilities are inspected following installation, and tank removals must also be inspected. Operators must maintain records of inventory and submit them to the Department on a regular basis.  Other provisions of the regulation prohibit the spillage of petroleum products from storage systems of any size, and prescribe action that must be taken in the event of a spill.  Cleanup, mitigation and rehabilitation may be required. 

Crop Protection Warehouses and Pesticide Containers

Crop protection warehouses include commercial facilities that store and distribute agricultural fertilizers and pesticides.  (Pesticides include herbicides, insecticides and fungicides.)   Crop protection warehouses require Environment Act Licenses, and are built to Croplife warehouse standards.  (Croplife is an industry association, formerly the Crop Protection Institute.  Crop protection warehouses are located near Treherne, Rathwell and Notre Dame de Lourdes.

Pesticide container recycling depots are serviced by a contractor working for Croplife.  Depots are generally located at waste disposal grounds. 

Contaminated and Impacted Sites 

Sites that have had previous contamination are recorded in a provincial registry.  These sites may be identified as contaminated or impacted.   There are no designated contaminated sites in the watershed.  Impacted sites are more numerous.  They are often associated with bulk or retail petroleum storage facilities.   Older fertilizer or pesticide storage facilities may also have elevated contaminant levels in surrounding soil.  Contaminants may affect land sales and future development opportunities.