An informative piece about the implications of London's current wastewater management system on the Indigenous peoples.
Written by Ciara Redmond
Edited by Brooklin Begg and Inaya Basharullah
London's system
Beneath our feet, two major pipe systems operate: one for water, and one for sewage. Ideally, these systems are entirely separate (see figure), with wastewater sent for treatment and stormwater drained back into the environment. However, London’s pipe system, like many others worldwide, is far from perfect. Improperly constructed drains, cracked pipes, and tree roots puncturing lines all lead to stormwater leaking into sanitary sewers. Additionally, older parts of London still use combined sewers, where stormwater and wastewater flow through the same pipes despite this type of system no longer being built.
The consequences
The problem with this confluence is the immense pressure it places on sewage pipes, especially during heavy rainfall or flooding. This can lead to pipe overflows and basement flooding, or, as a coping measure, a wastewater treatment plant bypass. A bypass relieves the pressure off pipes by discharging untreated wastewater directly into local waterways [1]. As one can imagine, this practice has serious implications for the river, especially as these discharges become more frequent in our changing climate. Consequently, the Thames River's overall surface water quality ranges grades from a C to a D [2]. For those unfamiliar with water quality ratings, think of these grades like scores on an exam—there’s room for improvement.
The implications
So, you didn’t get to enjoy a swim on a hot day… It’s frustrating but not life-altering to someone with many other options for cooling off, but that is not the case for London's downstream neighbors, The Oneida Nation of the Thames. Located 40 km southwest of London, Oneida is home to the Haudenosaunee people. The community has long relied on the Thames River to sustain their community—nourishing their land, serving as a transportation route, and, most critically, providing drinking water. However, because of water contamination, their connection to the river has been severed. The first signs of this disruption appeared in 2001, when Oneida was advised to issue its first boil water advisory [3]. Since then, the community has endured ten short-term advisories, with the current one having been in place since September 2019 [4]. This means that the residents of Oneida have not had clean drinking water for over five years.
The injustice
So why is the Oneida Nation on a boil water advisory but not London? The answer lies in Canada's political history. Due to contamination concerns, the City of London shifted its water supply from the Thames River to Lake Huron in 1967 and, more recently, to Lake Erie [5]. At that time, Indigenous communities lacked the financial resources and political influence to build similar infrastructure that could redirect where they got their water. Moreover, their deep cultural connection to the land made it difficult for them to abandon faith in the river and seek alternative sources.
True change
Both London and the Oneida Nation of the Thames are actively pursuing strategies for positive change. In March 2023, the Oneida Nation reached an agreement with Indigenous Services Canada to bring clean drinking water to the community. This will be achieved by investing in infrastructure that connects to the Lake Huron water supply system. The project is estimated to cost $43 million [6]. On London’s end, the city has invested nearly $11 million over the past three years to separate combined sewers in the downtown area [7]. Additionally, the city has secured funding from the federal Clean Water and Wastewater Fund for twenty-three projects aimed at improving the water, wastewater, and stormwater systems [8].
To summarize
London's efforts to separate sewers and improve wastewater systems are commendable, but the enduring challenges faced by the Oneida Nation highlight the ongoing and deeply rooted inequalities faced by Indigenous communities. True progress can only be made when every resident on our lands has equal access to safe and reliable water, regardless of geography or history. Until the day comes to fruition, it is the collective responsibility of governments and citizens to advocate for equitable solutions and support initiatives that bring justice and clean water to communities like Oneida.
1 City of London, “Sewers and Wastewater,” Water and Environment, accessed September 24, 2024, https://london.ca/living-london/water-environment/sewers-wastewater.
2 Cathy Quinlan and Karen Maaskant, “2022 Upper Thames River Watershed Report Card,” Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, 2022, https://thamesriver.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/S1-Report.pdf.
3 1. Declan Keogh et al., “Oneida Nation of the Thames Tap Water Different than Neighboring Non- Indigenous Communities,” Global News, November 26, 2019, https://globalnews.ca/news/6215303/oneida-london-safe-water/.
4 Oneida Political Office. “Water Department.” Oneida Nation of the Thames, December 8, 2023. https://oneida.on.ca/public-works/water-department/.
5 Thames River Background Study Research Team. “The Thames River Watershed.” Canadian Heritage Rivers System, 1998. https://thamesriver.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/Thames-CHRS-BackgroundStudy.pdf 6 Oneida Political Office. “Water Department.” Oneida Nation of the Thames, December 8, 2023. https://oneida.on.ca/public-works/water-department/.
7 City of London, “Sewers and Wastewater,” Water and Environment, accessed September 24, 2024, https://london.ca/living-london/water-environment/sewers-wastewater.
8 Environmental Services Department, “Stormwater,” City of London, accessed September 26, 2024, https://london.ca/living-london/water-environment/stormwater.
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