Two significant floods in five years are the main reason for significant shoreline erosion along the Ottawa River at the intake for the Town of Hawkesbury’s water system.
According to Environmental Superintendent Martin Perron, some erosion along the riverbank is to be expected.
“The river always erodes there a little bit on a regular basis,” he said.
However, serious flooding along the river during the springs of 2017 and 2019 led to accelerated erosion and damage around the intake area. Perron said the erosion has been so serious that a fence in the area is no longer properly secured to the ground.
Perron said the exact location of the water intake is not publicly disclosed to ensure security and the protection of the source water supply.
On June 27, Hawkesbury council has approved a $90,000 budget for shoreline restoration around the water intake.
“We just want to protect the place,” Perron said.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has given its approval for the restoration work to be done along the shoreline. An engineering firm is also finalizing the restoration plan for the town.
Perron said the work to restore the eroded Ottawa River shoreline around the municipal water intake will hopefully begin this fall.
From the intake at the river, the water passes through the treatment plant before being distributed through the system.
