For Immediate Release
2002-05-15
For further information contact:
Kevin Riley, Manager, Treatment Group, 546-1181 ext. 2224
HEAVY RAINFALL CAUSES SEWER SYSTEM TO OVERFLOW
The 70 mm of heavy rain that fell this week has caused the City's sewer system to overflow. The resulting affect is that 47,000 cubic metres of 'overflow' was released in to Lake Ontario.
The sewer and pumping stations were running at full capacity during the heavy rain days say utility officials, and they confirm that the 'overflow situation' prevented residents from experiencing sewer back ups.
Officials also point out that sewer overflows are monitored and are reported to the Ministry of the Environment on an event basis.
Sewer overflows are a result of an aging infrastructure say officials.
Some sewer mains do not have the capacity to quickly transport waste water under certain conditions which result in an 'overflow or bypass' situation.
The City has a pollution control action plan in place that will improve the current situation. The sewer improvements taking place are outlined below.
Sewer Capacity Upgrades - King St. W. from Country Club Rd. to Portsmouth Pumping Station - King St. W. from Centre Street to Beverly Street - Collingwood Street - upstream of trunk.
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Portsmouth station increased capacity (26,800 to 47,500 cubic metres per day
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O'Kill pumping station increased capacity (50,000 to 62,200 metres per day
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North End pumping station design underway
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River Street pumping station preliminary design underway
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22 of 31 projects identified have been completed
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Ongoing annual reconstruction projects including separation of combined sewers
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Cataraqui River Crossing capacity increase - preliminary design underway
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11 of 15 projects completed
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Review effects of Portsmouth pumping station improvements
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Harbour Front Trunk Sewer overflow control project draft RFP complete
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