Ontario Provincial Board of Health Annual Report, 1913
Report of the Sanitary Experts to the International Joint Commission upon the Pollution of the Boundary Waters between Canada and the United States – pg. 28
This city has had its population trebled in the last twelve years. Its typhoid rate has never been continuously excessively high. Every material change in its water supply apparatus has resulted in a sympathetic change in the typhoid rate.
Until two years ago all of the city sewage was discharged untreated directly into Toronto Bay or along the lake front west of the Island. Eventually all of it reached the open lake. At the present time the sewage is nearly all being collected by a trunk sewer and delivered at the Morley Avenue Sewage Treatment Plant, where it receives a partial sedimentation and is disinfected with chlorine previous to being discharged into the lake some three miles east of the present water intakes.
Toronto has gone through several outbreaks of typhoid. First, when the intake was located west of the Island in Garrison Common Bay, the rate was intermittently high, reaching at times to even 100. The second period was ushered in when the site of the intake was moved to its present locality, and a wooden conduit laid across the bottom of Toronto Bay to the city. In early years of this period the rate was low, but gradually increased until it reached 55, with exacerbations due to gross accidents to the conduit. In the third period a steel pipe was substituted for the wooden one. The rate fell to the lowest it had been for years, between 17 and 26. Accidents of various kinds happened to this pipe. It was cut by anchors three or four times. Once it rose to the surface. There were in consequence gross infections of the city water with the sewage-polluted bay water, followed by outbreaks of typhoid. Generally the pipe was tight, but the general typhoid rate increased as the population increased. There was no material change when the present tunnel was put in use. Chlorination was started, but was half-heartedly done. The rate was not materially affected. Six months later it was begun seriously with decided improvement in the rate, though the raw water for a year of the time was the worst it had been for years. Then the last period came in with putting into commission of a slow sand filter, which however, of too small a capacity to filter all of the city’s water; now between the filter, the after chlorination and the present treatment of the bulk of the sewage, practically sterile water is being supplied to Toronto. The typhoid rate for last year — 10.5 per 100,000— is the lowest that has been experienced in Toronto for over twenty-five years. The citizens are being well repaid for the expense involved. Money has been voted recently toward the installation of filters sufficient to filter 100,000,000 gallons per day of lake water. It is to be hoped that anxiety with reference to this water supply will soon be removed.
Ontario Provincial Board of Health Annual Report, 1913
Reports of Medical Inspector R.W. Bell, M.D. pg. 43
Report Re: Nuisance at foot of Carlaw Ave., Toronto
To the Secretary of the Provincial Board of Health, Ontario.
Sir, — As directed by you I yesterday (January 9th) investigated a complaint re nuisance at foot of Carlaw Avenue. There I found a sewer discharging into Ashbridge’s Bay a large quantity of sewage from that part of the city. As the water for a considerable distance out was frozen over, it was impossible to see the condition satisfactorily along the shore line, but sufficient was seen to pronounce the situation most unsanitary and disgraceful.
On cutting- a hole through the ice about 10 feet from shore in rear of Schofield and Holder’s boat repair works, we found about two feet of water, where I am informed a short time ago there was seven feet, and on taking a dip with a long-handled bucket we got a pail full of pure filth. The same at twenty feet from shore in four feet of water. Through this boats for repairs have to be dragged and
those seen on their cradles were smeared with this filth which had to be washed off before they can be taken into the works — a most disgusting job. A certain amount of dredging I understand was done here during the past season, but bringing about no relief. A former channel with a current through it kept the place fairly clear, but this is blocked up and causes the present trouble. A similar condition with a broken wooden box sewer exists at Logan Avenue, one block west.
Before the ice formed and in warm weather the condition must have been horrible, and should be remedied without delay.
Toronto, January 10, 1913
Ontario Provincial Board of Health Annual Report, 1913
Reports of Medical Inspector R.W. Bell, M.D. pg. 44
Report Re: Unsanitary Conditions in Ashbridges Bay, foot of Carlaw Ave., Toronto
To the Secretary of the Provincial Board of Health, Ontario.
Sir, — On January last by your instruction I made an inspection of the unsanitary conditions existing at the foot of Carlaw Avenue in this City and reported them as very bad. Complaint having again been made regarding them I yesterday, August 22nd, visited the locality and find there is no improvement, in fact very much worse as can well be understood, the previous inspection having been made in mid-winter when the bay was covered with ice except just around the sewer
outlet.
At the present time the sewage from a large section of the City is discharged through a concrete sewer about 100 feet out in Ashbridge’s Bay from the foot of the street. When a south, south-easterly or south-westerly wind blows much of this sewage is blown back along the shore line of the street and adjoining lots where I saw large quantities of excreta deposited from it. On either side of the street there are boat repair shop and through this filth boats have to be dragged for repairs. At the mouth of the sewer excreta is continually rising to the surface and a few yards beyond as I saw a small launch pass, solid filth rose in many places to the surface with a swirl in buckets full. The stench was unbearable. To the workmen in the adjoining shops and residents for considerable distance from the shore the nuisance must be almost intolerable. The men might about as well work
in a cesspool. It certainly is a menace to the health of all mentioned. I never in all my experience saw a worse condition and it is one which requires immediate abatement if serious consequences are not to ensue.
Toronto, August 23rd, 1913
Ontario Provincial Board of Health Annual Report, 1913
Reports of the Provincial Sanitary Engineer, pg. 55
Government Clay Products Plant at Mimico. September 27th
The disposal area which was installed to take care of the residences (60 people) has been in use for some time and showed serious saturation arising out of the fact that underdrainage had not been provided. The disposal area is placed in a low part of the property which has no sub-surface drainage. The only possible escape of the sewage being either by lateral filtration near the surface
or by evaporation from the surface. The quantity of sewage being handled was such as to make these methods impracticable. Saturation had begun to take place some weeks before my visit.
The only method which could be recommended as ensuring efficiency was that of deepening the bed to provide greater filtering media and to carry the effluent away by means of underdrains laid below the bed in suitable trenches filled with sand to connect with the bottom of the bed.
The underdrains should be carried to a sump-hole, the water from which could, by installing pumps, be either used in the manufacture of bricks or discharged to a ditch running in the immediate vicinity. Unfortunately, the ditch cannot be fed by gravity owing to the fact of its level being considerably higher than the level of the underdrains.