Unknown quantity of untreated sewage released into Hamilton harbour
CBC
Untreated Hamilton wastewater was discharged into the harbour Sunday night after an equipment failure at the city's Woodward Avenue wastewater treatment plant.
That day's heavy rains, which continued into Monday morning, led the plant to be overwhelmed with water. In those cases, the plant enters "bypass mode," during which some of the excess water is released into the harbour.
Typically, however, that water has had some degree of treatment — but not this time.
"Due to an equipment failure, wastewater was unfortunately discharged into Hamilton Harbour without treatment," said the city in a release issued Tuesday. "At this time, the volume of wastewater discharged is being calculated."
The failure happened in the screening area of the plant, where two of four screens failed and required the temporary bypass to avoid permanent damage to the facility, says the city.
"This was a very unusual circumstance and something the city has not experienced since 2015," states the release. "The equipment was quickly repaired and the plant has been restored back to its full capacity."
That night, the city also "experienced overflow events" at eight other locations around the city: sewer overflow tanks at Royal Avenue, Main and King streets, Greenhill Avenue and the Red Hill Valley pipe; and also at Pleasant Avenue and Edenbridge Court, Wellington Street North, Wentworth Street North and Strathearne Avenue North.