Location: Otterburne Manitoba
Date of Incident: December 5, 2011

On December 5th, 2011, a contractor punctured a sewer line four metres under the Rat River while directionally drilling for a gas line installation.  Raw sewage back flowed onto the shoreline and an estimated 100 to 200 gallons (approximately 370 to 750 litres) pooled and froze onto the ice of the Rat River.  Crews stopped the flow of sewage after two hours.  No impacts to water quality of the Rat River are expected. 

Status: Sewer line repairs are ongoing. This information was provided by Manitoba Conservation.

 

Location: Winnipeg Manitoba      
Date of Incident: October 7, 2011

On November 2, 2011, the City of Winnipeg announced that partially treated sewage from the South End Water Pollution Control Centre had been discharging to the Red River since October 7, 2011. Bacteria that are responsible for digesting organic material in the secondary clarifiers at the Centre were destroyed and resulted in the release of partially treated sewage to the Red River.  While the total volume of the release is unknown, wastewater discharge from the South End Water Pollution Control Centre was estimated at a maximum of about 1 per cent of the flow in the Red River between October 1st and October 20th.  Water quality results taken from various locations on the Red River within the City during November 3rd to November 23rd indicated that densities of Escherichia coli  (E. coli) initially spiked above the recreational water quality objective.  Concentrations of ammonia were elevated downstream of the sewage outfall.  Total phosphorus concentrations also increased downstream of the South End Water Pollution Control Centre.  Despite the discharge of partially treated sewage, during November, water quality objectives for the protection of aquatic life were met in the Red River and therefore, no impacts aquatic life and wildlife were expected.  Since the incident was not reported until November 2nd, impacts to aquatic life and wildlife during the earlier part of the incident (from October 7th through November 2nd) are unknown.

Status: The South End Water Pollution and Control Centre is currently operating normally. An investigation by Manitoba Conservation into this incident is ongoing. This information was provided by the City of Winnipeg and Manitoba Water Stewardship.

 

Location: Grand Forks, North Dakota

Date of Incident: March 11, 2011

 

On March 11th, 2011, a break in the main line resulted in excess wastewater that was threatening to cause sewage backup into basements in Grand Forks, North Dakota.  Therefore, approximately 409 cubic metres of excess wastewater was discharged to the storm sewer system, bypassing the wastewater treatment system.  Given the high dilution with water in the Red River, no water quality impacts are expected in Manitoba.

 

Status: The break in the line was repaired and the system is now operating normally. This information was provided by the North Dakota Department of Health.

 

Location: Point du Bois, Manitoba

Date of Incident: March 4, 2010

On March 4th, 2010, a problem with a chlorinator at the Point du Bois generating station resulted in a discharge of 1.5 cubic metres of un-disinfected wastewater to the Winnipeg River.  Given the high dilution with water in the Winnipeg River, no water quality impacts are expected.

Status: The system is now operating normally. This information was provided by Manitoba Conservation.