Current Status: Not Impaired
Added Costs to Agriculture or Industry is considered Not Impaired on the Canadian side of the St. Marys River Area of Concern.
The assessment demonstrated that environmental conditions within the river do not create significant economic burdens for industrial users. Businesses that rely on the St. Marys River are able to operate without incurring additional costs related to pollution or degraded water quality.
This finding is another indicator of the river’s recovery and reflects the improvements in environmental quality that have occurred throughout the St. Marys River watershed over the past several decades.
What Is This BUI?
The Added Costs to Agriculture or Industry BUI evaluates whether environmental conditions within an Area of Concern create additional expenses for agricultural operations or industrial facilities.
In some locations, degraded water quality can increase operating costs by requiring:
- Additional water treatment.
- More frequent equipment maintenance.
- Process modifications.
- Increased cleaning or filtration.
- Alternative water sources.
This BUI examines whether pollution or environmental degradation causes businesses to spend more money than they would under normal conditions.
Why Was This BUI Evaluated?
The St. Marys River supports a variety of industrial activities and serves as an important water resource for local businesses.
Because the river was designated a Great Lakes Area of Concern due to historical environmental impacts, it was important to determine whether water quality conditions were creating additional costs for industries that relied on the river.
As part of the assessment, researchers examined:
- Industrial water use practices.
- Water quality conditions throughout the river.
- Treatment requirements for industrial operations.
- Potential operational costs associated with environmental degradation.
- Comparisons with similar facilities operating outside the Area of Concern.
The goal was to determine whether businesses were experiencing financial impacts directly attributable to conditions within the St. Marys River.
What Was Found?
The assessment found no evidence that industries were incurring significant additional costs because of environmental conditions within the Area of Concern.
Researchers determined that:
- Water quality conditions did not require unusual treatment measures.
- Industries were able to use river water without experiencing costs beyond normal operational requirements.
- No widespread issues related to contamination were identified that would increase operating expenses.
- Water quality was comparable to that found in similar Great Lakes locations.
- Existing treatment and operational practices were sufficient to meet industrial needs.
The findings indicated that environmental conditions in the St. Marys River were not creating economic burdens for industrial users.
Because there is very little agricultural activity directly dependent on water withdrawals from the river within the Canadian Area of Concern, agricultural impacts were not identified as a concern.
Status on the Canadian Side
On the Canadian side of the St. Marys River Area of Concern, Added Costs to Agriculture or Industry has never been considered impaired.
Assessments concluded that:
- No measurable additional costs attributable to Area of Concern conditions were identified.
- Water quality did not interfere with industrial operations.
- Existing water treatment practices were adequate and consistent with normal operations.
- The criteria for impairment were not met.
As a result, no remedial actions were required specifically for this beneficial use.