Geothermal Heating System Permit for Sarnia Residential Buildings
Official title: Drewlo Holdings Inc. - Environmental Compliance Approval (sewage)
A developer wants to install an open-loop geothermal heating system for three apartment buildings in Sarnia. The system would draw water from the marina bay, use it for heating, then discharge it back about 23 metres offshore. At peak capacity, it could process over 12 million litres of water daily.
Why This Matters
Live near Sandy Lane or the Sarnia marina? This system would continuously draw and discharge millions of litres of water daily into the bay. Residents of the new buildings would get geothermal heating, but neighbours may have questions about water quality impacts.
What Could Change
If approved, Drewlo Holdings could operate a geothermal system processing up to 12.2 million litres of marina water daily. The permit would set conditions for water discharge temperature and quality. This could become a model for similar residential geothermal projects in Ontario.
Key Issues
- Should this geothermal system be approved to discharge processed water back into the marina bay?
- What conditions should govern water intake and discharge volumes?
How to Participate
- Visit this consultation page to submit your comments through the Environmental Registry of Ontario.
- Contact enviropermissions@ontario.ca or call 1-800-461-6290 to request to view supporting materials in person.