Months back, Steve Mann engaged in the unpleasant task of clearing out foul-smelling waste and decaying animal remains from the Peter Street Basin. However, today, he finds himself swimming in the same body of water. The University of Toronto professor has taken it upon himself to purify the peculiar lake water located near condos off Queens Quay, opposite HTO Park.
Mann stumbled upon this neglected basin while seeking new swim spots due to a back injury that led him to regularly swim at Ontario Place’s West Island for rehabilitation. When denied access to the island for the construction of the controversial Therme spa, he sought an alternative location.
Encountering a neglected but garbage-filled area, Mann, along with a dedicated team of volunteers, including his students, began the arduous task of cleaning up the basin. Various methods, such as using technology like robot submarines, were attempted, but ultimately, employing pool nets proved most effective in removing the extensive trash.
To ensure safety, Mann monitored E. coli levels rigorously, conducting tests in his university lab and collaborating with water quality experts. Toronto maintains stringent standards, deeming water unsafe for swimming when E. coli levels exceed 100 per 100 milliliters. Recent samples from the basin have shown E. coli levels between seven and 10 per 100 milliliters, well within the safe limits.
Some of Mann’s students, like Alexander Vicol, who helped in the cleanup, are hesitant to swim in the basin, especially in cold weather. Toronto Public Health does not test the water quality in the basin and advises against swimming there, emphasizing that it is not designated as a supervised swimming area by the city.
Neighbours, like Dianna Gray, who observes the basin daily from her workplace near the water, have noticed significant improvements since Mann began his cleanup efforts. The basin has become cleaner, with a noticeable reduction in foul odors and removal of dead animals and debris.
Despite initial skepticism, individuals such as Perry Toone have been impressed by the transformation of the basin, with Toone even taking his first swim after learning about the improved water quality. Looking ahead, Mann envisions further enhancements to the area, jokingly mentioning ideas like installing a springboard, lane ropes, and lifeguard towers to transform the basin into an Olympic-style pool.