Environmental Science & Engineering - www.esemag.com - January 2004
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Penetanguishene honours Dr. P.H. Jones

Penetanguishene’s treatment plant is named in honour of Dr. Philip Jones. Pictured left to right: Lady Mayor, Anita Dubeau, Eileen Jones, widow of Dr. Jones, Past Mayor, Gil Robillard, and Past Mayor, Vince Moreau.

In the early 1960s, the Ontario Water Resources Commission, now the Ministry of Environment, had frozen all new developments in Penetanguishene until the municipality had the capacity to treat its raw sewage being discharged into Penetang Bay at several locations.

The OWRC developed plans for a new treatment plant in accordance with the Commission’s specifications. The plant was to be financed and operated by the Commission, like most other plants in Ontario, and the municipality would be charged a yearly rental for this service. The estimated capital cost of this conventional system was $325,000 to $350,000 and required a substantial area of land to build. The Beck site at Tannery Cove had been selected by Council.

In conjunction with the OWRC, the municipality applied to the Ontario Municipal Board for the authority to construct and finance such an endeavour and a hearing was held in Penetanguishene to so determine. The OMB looked over the financial picture and questioned the town’s ability to finance the facility.

Backed by strong opposition from recently hired town engineer, Herb Gray, Council opposed the proposal submitted by the OWRC as being too expensive. Mr. Gray submitted evidence to the Board that the town could develop and operate its own treatment facility - and one at least equal to or better than the one proposed - at a cost considerably below $350,000. The OMB turned down the OWRC application and authorized the town to go ahead with a study of its own and formulate recommendations for a treatment plant subject to OWRC approval.

The OMB decision - understandable in light of the financial picture - was an extremely grave event as it not only confirmed the freeze on all new development, but removed hope of being able to proceed with the required solution to lift the “freeze” in the immediate future.

Mr. Gray knew of a University of Toronto professor who specialized in sewage treatment systems. He sold Council on the idea of hiring Dr. Philip Jones to develop a treatment plant utilizing the “extended aeration” system, as efficient and far less costly than the conventional system (anaerobic) as promoted by the OWRC. Dr. Jones’ design was submitted to the OMB by the municipality. The estimated cost of this system was $250,000 or $100,000 less than the conventional system. Furthermore, since the municipality was going to own this plant, it qualified for CMHC financing for not only two thirds of the costs at a very attractive interest rate, but also for a federal grant of $46,000, thus reducing the net cost to around $200,000.

In 1965, this new design was approved by the OWRC and the OMB, thus releasing two major subdivisions which were on hold and permitting the town to proceed with the construction and servicing of Edward and Dunlop Streets to permit the construction of a new high school. This was also the beginning of servicing the entire west end and north end with sanitary sewers and new water services at an approximate cost of $5 million dollars, of which a good portion was highly subsidized at a great benefit to the abutting property owners.

A major development that was made possible by this new sewage treatment plant was an industrial park, much needed to attract industries in order to make up for the losses of the early 1960s. The plan of subdivision for the industrial park was registered in 1967, serviced in 1969 and by 1971, the town had three major industries (Advanced Extrusion, Techform and TRW).

Dr. Jones played a major role at this vital time in the town’s development and through the years, the town became the envy of many surrounding municipalities. As a professor with the University of Toronto, Dr. Jones provided additional benefits for the town by involving his students in the treatment plant in research projects and thus brought expertise and ongoing support at no cost to the town over several years.

Dr. Jones became a founding professor of a new school of environmental engineering at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia.

In September, 2003, the Town named the facility in honour of Professor Jones. The Jones’ family owned a waterfront home in Penetanguishene for many years.

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