The City of Richmond Hill is receiving $1,095,000 in funding from the Government of Ontario to support the South Richvale Valleyland Sewer Protection Project.
The funding will be used to protect and improve important water systems in the South Richvale Valleyland, along Patterson Creek, south of Carrville Road and east of Bathurst Street.
Through the project, Richmond Hill will stabilize the creek banks to prevent further erosion and improve the waterway’s ability to manage extreme weather events, including heavy rainfall. This investment will protect the underground sanitary sewers from becoming exposed due to erosion, reducing the risk of cracked or damaged pipes, which could potentially leak into the creek. The work will also reduce sediment in the creek, creating a better habitat for aquatic species, including the endangered Redside Dace fish.
Patterson Creek is part of the larger Don River watershed, one of the major river systems that flows south to Lake Ontario.
This project will protect key infrastructure in the area, including
- a sanitary sewer pipe
- a York Region sanitary trunk sewer
- stormwater outlets
- a local pedestrian trail.
Streambank erosion along Patterson Creek has been identified as a risk to underground sanitary sewers that could cause pipe failure resulting in sewage being discharged into the environment. In response, the city is collaborating with York Region, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and the Government of Ontario to deliver this key infrastructure project that will protect the community and environment.
The South Richvale Valleyland Sewer Protection Project is a combined environmental and infrastructure project with a total estimated cost of $1.5 million.
Construction is underway and expected to be completed by October 2026, with ground restoration plantings extending into 2027.
