Niagara wastewater treatment plant fails test, no threat to pubic safety

The Niagara Falls Wastewater Treatment Plant has once again violated federal rules after toxic discharge was found in testing.

The toxic discharge killed 80 per cent of Rainbow Trout in a federally regulated lab test.

Niagara Region maintains that the traces of hazardous materials identified during testing do not pose a threat to public safety.

“Downstream effects of this material entering the waterways is unlikely to be seen or felt by any users of the waterway,” says Robert Daw, Associate Director of Wastewater Operations for the Niagara Region.

He mentioned that this particular location discharges into a stream that doesn’t reach any recreational users.

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Aging equipment and mechanical failures are being blamed for the failed test.

The Niagara Falls treatment facility is one of the oldest water treatment plants in the region and hasn’t seen upgrades since the late 80s.

Daw says upgrades are well overdue and the region is doing everything they can to keep the current system up and running efficiently until the upgrades are completed.

“The new process unit … should be in place by fall. We’re going through a series of commissioning tests beginning later this month. Those should wrap up July, August,” says Daw.

Daw added that it’s important to know that this test is a snapshot in time and a subsequent weekly test was passed.

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