Kiera Jefferson
Lake Ontario, the easternmost and smallest of the Great Lakes, is also perhaps the most polluted. The lake receives agricultural runoff, urban waste, and industrial waste from within its own basin, as well as the accumulation of contaminants from the other Great Lakes. While the overall status of the Lake Ontario basin ecosystem is Fair and the trend is Unchanging to Improving, with fewer beach closings and a decline in contaminant concentrations in fish, there are still significant concerns about pollution in the lake.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Contamination | Randle Reef in Hamilton Harbour is a contaminated site with a toxic blob of coal tar and industrial waste |
| Plastic pollution | An estimated 10,000 tons of plastic waste enter the lake annually |
| Groundwater quality | Fair, with elevated chloride levels due to road salt |
| Human impact | The human population in the Lake Ontario basin has increased by more than 60% in the past 50 years |
| Swimming safety | Generally safe for swimming, with improvements in beach openings and contaminant concentrations in fish |
| Algal blooms | The current status is good with an unchanging trend, although localized impaired zones exist |
| Nutrient concentrations | Fair, with offshore phosphorus levels below objectives |
| Invasive species | The presence of invasive mussels, Sea Lamprey, and Phragmites has altered the habitat and food web |
| Native species recovery | Lake Trout, Deepwater Sculpin, and Lake Sturgeon populations are showing signs of recovery |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic pollution
Lake Ontario, the easternmost, lowest in elevation, smallest in surface area, and perhaps the most polluted of the Great Lakes, has seen improvements in recent years, with fewer beach closings and a decline in contaminant concentrations in fish. However, it continues to face significant plastic pollution, with around 10,000 tons of plastic waste entering the lake annually.
The real cause of plastic pollution in Lake Ontario, and globally, is the ever-increasing production of plastics. They are in almost everything we use daily, and every stage of plastic's life cycle, from production to disposal, contributes to pollution in our waterways. While individual littering is a factor, the main issue is the overproduction by the plastics industry. This has led to calls for government intervention and regulations to reduce plastic production and use.
In addition to microplastics, larger plastic items also contribute to the pollution in Lake Ontario. Plastic cups, bags, bottles, and straws are commonly found on beaches, and plastic waste from industrial sites is also making its way into the lake. The Ontario government has taken some steps to address the issue, such as banning certain single-use plastic items and funding local shoreline cleanup projects. However, critics argue that more needs to be done, including industry-led initiatives and government regulations, to tackle the plastic pollution crisis in Lake Ontario and the Great Lakes as a whole.
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Agricultural runoff
Lake Ontario is the easternmost, lowest in elevation, and smallest in surface area of the Great Lakes. It is also perhaps the most polluted. As the last lake in the chain, it receives the accumulation of contaminants from the other Great Lakes, as well as agricultural runoff, and urban and industrial waste discharges within its own basin.
Agricultural intensification has led to higher nitrate levels in Lake Ontario's tributaries. This is due to increases in row-crop production at the expense of pasture and forage. The type of applied fertilizer (chemical and manure), field management, and seasonal weather patterns also influence nutrient loading to adjacent aquatic environments.
There is growing concern over nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) enrichment of surface and groundwater resulting from agricultural runoff, as this may pose a direct threat to human health. Eutrophication, commonly associated with excess nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) inputs to surface waters, remains the most widespread water quality impairment globally.
In southern Ontario, increases in nitrate (NO3-N) concentrations, as well as declines in total phosphorus (TP) concentration, have been observed over the past four decades at predominantly agricultural watersheds. While total P (TP) concentrations have declined in many surface waters, the proportion of P present in the dissolved reactive fraction (i.e. soluble reactive P or SRP) has increased in Lake Ontario.
Reducing phosphorus sources is important for mitigating phosphorus runoff, which fuels algal blooms that threaten surface water quality. Although P loss from arable land is a critical contributor to P loads in many agricultural watersheds, there has been a lack of understanding of P loss patterns and drivers across regions.
Overall, agricultural runoff is a significant contributor to the pollution of Lake Ontario, and efforts to protect the lake from this runoff have been insufficient.
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Urban and industrial waste
Lake Ontario, the easternmost, lowest in elevation, and smallest Great Lake, is perhaps the most polluted of the Great Lakes. As the last lake in the chain, Lake Ontario receives the accumulation of contaminants from the other Great Lakes, in addition to agricultural runoff and urban and industrial waste discharges within its own basin.
One of the main ways that urban waste enters Lake Ontario is through rivers. The Don River, for example, carries hundreds of kilograms of trash into Lake Ontario each year. As the river with the highest percentage of urban area surrounding it in all of Canada, the Don River is an ideal place to study the effects of human pollution. Plastic in the ecosystem can kill fish and affect their reproductive systems, preventing them from replenishing their own stock.
In addition to urban waste, Lake Ontario also receives industrial waste. Randle Reef, located in Hamilton Harbour, has been identified as one of 43 "areas of concern" for pollution in the Great Lakes. The site contains a huge blob of coal tar, a byproduct of coal gasification, that has been releasing contaminants into the lake for decades. Randle Reef is now considered the largest contaminated site on the Canadian side of the Great Lakes and the second-most contaminated site in all of Canada. To address this issue, a $139 million underwater box the size of six city blocks is being constructed to contain the contaminated zone for approximately 200 years.
Another source of industrial pollution in Lake Ontario is the Ontario Power Generation (OPG) nuclear waste storage facility located on the lake's shoreline. The total radioactivity of the nuclear wastes stored at the Darlington Nuclear Station is more than 150 times greater than the total radiation released into the atmosphere by the Fukushima accident in 2011. Despite concerns from the Ontario Clean Air Alliance and other groups, OPG has proposed to store nuclear wastes in conventional commercial storage buildings on the shoreline for another 10 years.
While Lake Ontario faces significant challenges from urban and industrial waste, there are also signs of improvement. Beach closings have decreased, and contaminant concentrations in fish are declining. Efforts to improve waste-catching infrastructure and promote responsible waste management among residents can help further reduce pollution in Lake Ontario and protect the health of the ecosystem and the public.
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Sewage
Toronto, which sits on the northwestern edge of Lake Ontario, has a combined sewer system that collects sewage and stormwater runoff in a single system of pipes. During heavy rainstorms, this system can become overwhelmed, resulting in the release of millions of gallons of raw sewage into the lake. This has led to the contamination of the lake with various pollutants, including bacteria, condoms, tampons, and wet naps.
In response to this issue, the city of Toronto has launched a $3 billion stormwater management program, which aims to halt the flow of sewage into Lake Ontario and improve the quality of the city's waterways. The first stage of this project is the construction of the Coxwell Bypass Tunnel, which will improve the aquatic habitat for fish and other wildlife. The overall goal is to eliminate sewage dumping into the lake within 10 years, a significant acceleration of previous plans.
While Toronto's efforts are a positive step, sewage pollution remains a widespread problem in the Great Lakes region. In addition to Toronto, other cities such as Milwaukee, Cleveland, Chicago, Buffalo, and Gary have also been identified as having antiquated sewer systems that contribute to the pollution of the Great Lakes. Furthermore, a report from Environment Canada revealed that in 2016, only 159 of the 269 municipal water systems required to report sewage leaks actually did so, indicating that the true extent of sewage pollution may be much higher than reported.
The impact of sewage pollution on Lake Ontario is complex. While there have been improvements in some areas, such as fewer beach closures and declines in contaminant concentrations in fish, other issues persist. For example, invasive species, such as Sea Lamprey and Phragmites, have significantly altered the habitat and food web within the lake. Additionally, the presence of pathogens in sewage can lead to the spread of diseases by mosquitoes, further complicating the ecological consequences of sewage pollution.
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Groundwater quality
The groundwater quality of Lake Ontario is assessed as "'fair" with some improvements. Over the past decade, the percentage of days during the swimming season that Lake Ontario's beaches are open and safe for swimming has increased. The lake's beaches and nearshore waters provide good opportunities for swimming and other recreational use.
However, there are still concerns about the impact of human activities and climate change on the lake's health. As the downstream Great Lake, Lake Ontario is influenced by activities in the Lake Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie basins. Urban industrial centres like Hamilton and Toronto on the Canadian side contribute to the lake's pollution. Stormwater runoff from industrial areas and garbage piles can contain pollutants that eventually make their way into the lake.
In addition, invasive species, such as sea lamprey, mussels, and Phragmites, have significantly altered the habitat and food web in Lake Ontario. Efforts are being made to control these invasive species and restore native prey fish populations.
The reports also highlight the effects of climate change on the lake. From 1973 to 2020, maximum ice coverage declined across all lakes, with Lake Ontario losing up to 88% of its maximum coverage. Scientists warn that the loss of ice could affect the biodiversity of the area. Additionally, increasing precipitation and temperature levels in the Great Lakes could damage water quality due to runoff and changes in contaminant and nutrient cycling, leading to more algal blooms.
To address these issues, Ontario has invested in projects focusing on science and on-the-ground work to restore the health of the Great Lakes. These projects aim to address critical issues such as agricultural best practices, green infrastructure, public awareness, and climate change adaptation.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Lake Ontario is polluted. It receives the accumulation of contaminants from the other Great Lakes, as well as agricultural runoff, and urban and industrial waste discharges within its own basin.
Lake Ontario is one of the most polluted Great Lakes. It has been described as an "aquatic landfill" due to the presence of a 150-year-old toxic blob from industrial pollution. The lake also receives approximately 10,000 tons of plastic waste every year.
Swimming in Lake Ontario is generally considered safe. Over the past decade, the percentage of days during the swimming season that Lake Ontario's monitored beaches are open and safe for swimming has increased. However, it is recommended to avoid swimming for 24 hours after heavy rain as stormwater runoff can contaminate the lake with pollutants and bacteria.
Efforts are being made to improve the water quality of Lake Ontario. An underwater box is being constructed to contain the contaminated zone in Hamilton's Randle Reef. Additionally, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks is working on projects to protect the Great Lakes, including funding for local shoreline cleanup initiatives and encouraging industries to adopt best practices to prevent pollution.
