Montreal begins controversial sewage dump into St Lawrence river

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Montreal begins controversial sewage dump into St Lawrence river

Canadian city says pumping untreated waste into the river, which forms part of the border with the US, is essential while sewage treatment system is repaired

Reuters in Montreal
Wednesday 11 November 2015 14.59 EST

Montreal, Canada’s second-largest city, began dumping untreated sewage into the St Lawrence river on Wednesday, angering environmentalists with a repair operation that could release as much as 8bn litres (2.1bn gallons) of wastewater into a major waterway.

The city has said the dump, expected to last up to a week, is necessary while work is carried out to replace ageing parts of the waste treatment system that could create a greater environmental hazard if it unexpectedly broke.

The action prompted outrage from cities and citizens downstream – worried about raw sewage in the water and the possibility of detritus such as condoms washing up on riverbanks. Even some upstream were concerned because of the precedent it was setting.

“It’s surprising, disgusting and outrageous that the city of Montreal took this path, which is the least costly alternative for them,” said Lee Willbanks, from advocacy group Save the River, based in the riverside town of Clayton in New York state. “If Montreal does it, others municipalities might do the same.“


Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/11/montreal-begins-controversial-sewage-dump-into-st-lawrence-river

[trillion]

1. ugh! oh man

bet that's going to harm and kill all the fish and all the wildlife that drink from it.

[KT2000]

2. British Columbia does it every day

The City of Victoria dumps its sewage into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. They have been working on getting a treatment system for years and years while some of the politicians say dumping into the Strait is just fine.
When I talk to people from Victoria, they are embarrassed and want a treatment facility built and the dumping stopped.

[Art_from_Ark]

5. They were talking about that back in the '80s

I remember watching a TV program about that around 1988 or so which showed underwater pipes spewing sewage into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. After all these years, they STILL haven't done anything about it? Disgusting.

[MFM008]

3. how is this a good idea

HTF is this a good idea. They should have to drink it themselves.

[DirkGently]

4. Jesus. n/t

[dembotoz]

6. some fitting tom lehrer