Photo credit: globalnews.ca
An investigation has commenced following the confirmation of an unintentional wastewater leak into the Bow River in southeast Calgary. City officials announced this finding after crews identified the issue early Friday morning on the eastern bank of the river, close to the Ogden Street bridge, roughly 500 meters from the Bonnybrook Wastewater Treatment Plant.
During a press briefing on Saturday, city representatives revealed that the monitoring systems at the wastewater treatment plant had alerted them to a possible problem on March 19. The data showed that the wastewater levels entering the plant were unusually low, and these levels continued to decrease, prompting further investigation.
On Thursday, as part of their inspection protocol to identify any leaks into the river, water samples from the Bow River were collected. However, no signs of leakage were detected at that time.
Get weekly health news
Stay updated with the latest developments in medical news and health information, delivered every Sunday.
Test results, received on Friday, indicated increased levels of E. coli in the vicinity of the treatment plant. Following additional scrutiny, crews successfully located the source of the leak: one of the three pipes responsible for transporting untreated wastewater under the Bow River to the facility.
Calgary’s mayor, Jyoti Gondek, commented on the situation, stating, “When we completely shut down the leaking pipe on Friday, we can be thankful that the backup pipe was able to manage the diverted waste, and the existing third pipe is currently serving as an additional backup.”
In response to the leak, Alberta Health Services (AHS), Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, as well as communities situated downstream, were promptly informed as a precautionary measure.
Doug Morgan, the general manager of operational services, remarked, “The three wastewater pipes leading to the Bonnybrook plant are engineered to support each other in unforeseen situations like this, ensuring continued service for Calgary.” He emphasized that the immediate priority is to monitor the situation and ensure that the leak is completely contained. The city is undertaking a thorough assessment to check the latest inspection date for these pipes and reviewing long-term maintenance and monitoring plans to avert similar incidents in the future.
The city assured residents that the drinking water supply in Calgary remains unaffected and categorized the risk to public health as low. However, authorities are advising Calgarians and their pets to refrain from contacting the affected area and recommend that any fish caught in the vicinity be thoroughly cooked before consumption.
As of now, the wastewater flow into the plant has nearly stabilized, and the city is expected to provide further updates on the situation by Monday.
Source
globalnews.ca