Odour from the Ashbridges Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant

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The decision

2026-05-20 · Toronto City Council · amended

As filed

City Council on May 20 and 21, 2026, adopted the following: 1. City Council direct the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services and the Chief Communications Officer, in consultation with the General Manager, Toronto Water and the Executive Director, Customer Experience, to create the necessary action plan to enhance the City's approach to reporting, tracking and communicating about odour issues at the Ashbridges Bay Main Treatment Plant and report directly to the June 24, 25 and 26, 2026, meeting of City Council to confirm that the following is in place: a.

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a new 311 Service Request for odour concerns related to the Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant, as distinct from sewer odour, across all existing 311 channels, to be implemented by June 4, 2026, enabling regular reporting through 311 dashboards and enhanced tracking; b. a Community Notification Protocol, to be developed in consultation with the local Councillor, to ensure those within the airshed of the Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant are notified of odour issues at the appropriate time and public messaging is provided as quickly and as broadly as needed; and c. a Councillor Notification Protocol that ensures local Councillors are notified promptly of odour issues. 2. City Council direct that the report referred to in Part 1 above also include: a. confirmation from the General Manager, Toronto Water that the largest primary tanks at the Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant will undergo refurbishing in 2028 and the remaining primary tanks will be refurbished between 2028 and 2031; and b. a timeline for the installation of the odour control station on Coxwell Avenue.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

Located in Ward 14 on the Waterfront, Ashbridges Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant is the main sewage treatment plant for Toronto, servicing upwards of 1.4 million residents. Over the last number of years, Toronto Water has increased funding and undertaken upgrades for odour control. Last week, I received many complaints from local residents who were very upset with a dreadful odour that was emanating from the plant. There were emails to my office as well as calls to 311.

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Some residents shared that they were confused with the 311-reporting process. Thankfully the mechanical breakdown in one of the holding tanks has now been repaired after a very rough week. On Monday, April 27th, I received an email from Toronto Water indicting that there were only 6 odour sewer complaints in the area near the plant and only 3 odour complaints made to date in 2026 to the plant directly. Apparently the 311 system for complaints covers sewer odours in general and there does not seem to be a stand-alone Service Request for odours from the plant. I would hope that Toronto Water knew that there had been a mechanical failure at Ashbridges Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant and that nauseating odours were emanating from the plant and were settling over the east end air shed. I am concerned that my office was not advised that there was a critical failure and a serious odour issue at the plant. With such a large critical permanent installation as the Ashbridges Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant, I would like to propose a revamp of the system interface with local residents when odour issues arise - both for intake as well as outgoing messages. The current system seems to be frustrating and not working as well as it could. Residents who live in the immediate airshed of the main sewage treatment plant require an improved communications protocol for issues arising from the operations as well as a clearer portal that captures and tracks all service requests related to operations.

Staff recommended

Councillor Paula Fletcher recommends that the Infrastructure and Environment Committee: 1. Request the General Manager, Toronto Water, in consultation with the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services, the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services and the Chief Communications Officer to report directly to the May 20, 21 and 22, 2026 meeting of City Council with an initial framework for an improved communications protocol

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for issues arising from the operations of the Ashbridges Bay Wastewater Treatment Plan and a clear portal that captures and tracks all service requests related to its operations.

Considered

2026-05-06 · Infrastructure and Environment Committee · forwarded without recommendation
Decision as filed
The Infrastructure and Environment Committee forwarded the item to City Council without recommendations.
Clerk’s note
The Infrastructure and Environment Committee: 1. Requested the General Manager, Toronto Water, in consultation with the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services, the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services, and the Chief Communications Officer to report directly to the May 20, 21 and 22, 2026 meeting of City Council with an initial framework for an improved communications protocol for issues arising from the operations
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of the Ashbridges Bay Wastewater Treatment Plan and a clear portal that captures and tracks all service requests related to its operations, and to include information in this report on whether there are any requirements in the Environmental Compliance Approval for a communications protocol with the surrounding community.
2026-05-20 · Toronto City Council · amended

On the record

The item as the City filed it

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