RAP
xii. Added Costs to Agriculture and Industry
BUI xii Added Costs to Agriculture and Industry
Status: Not Impaired
What was the original problem? This BUI was not listed as impaired in the 1992 report since “industry considers this source of water to be adequate or good compared with other areas in the Great Lakes”.
Delisting Guideline: When there are no additional costs required to treat the water prior to use for agricultural purposes (i.e. livestock watering, irrigation and crop-spraying) and industrial purposes (i.e. intended for commercial or industrial applications and non-contact food processing).
How Are Things Today?
- Industries report having to add mild bleach to intake water to control growth of algae on heat exchangers and condensers; however, this is routine operation. Reductions in nutrient levels in Harbour water generally reduce algae levels
- Industries report increased chloride levels in the spring which leads to increased rates of corrosion and need for more frequent exchange; however, winter road salting is not an issue unique to lands surrounding Hamilton Harbour, but restricted Hamilton Harbour circulation due to geography shows the effect more acutely
- Neither ArcelorMittal nor U. S. Steel Canada report current additional costs as beyond those required for normal operation
For full information on BUI xii:
Photo Credit: Dave Heidebrecht
