Regina releases 15 million litres of sewage in Wascana Creek

Tuesday, August 11, 2015, 5:52 PM - Officials in Regina, Sask. have miscalculated the amount of partially-treated sewage that was released into Wascana Creek two weeks ago during a bout of heavy rain. Authorities originally thought 1 million litres had made it way out to the creek. On Monday, Pat Wilson, the city's director of water works, told reporters the actual number was closer to 15 million litres.

The initial figure was based on retention volumes at the McCarthy Boulevard pumping station. Officials changed that figure following a refined calculation that accounted for pump rates and the amount the bypass valve was left open.

Approximately 78 mm of rain fell in Regina over a 24-hour period in late July, with some areas seeing more than 100 milimetres.

During the storm, city officials made the decision to bypass some standard wastewater treatment processes and release partially-treated sewage into the creek in an effort to prevent sewer water from backing up homes.

"A bypass is never a desirable event," Wilson said according to News Talk 980, adding the creek was back to its normal condition within a few days of the incident.

"The diversion did not have a lasting impact on the creek water quality," she said.

Officials are now working to improve the McCarthy pumping station so it is better equipped to handle major rain events.

The city is also in the process of constructing a new, $181-million sewage treatment plant that is expected to be running by December 2016.

Source: News Talk 980