Smelly flow of untreated sewage and stormwater has made its way into the Niagara river. Municipalities say heavy rainfall and outdated infrastructure is to blame.

Last night, 30 million gallons of untreated sewage and stormwater overflowed from New York’s water treatment plant and into the Niagara river.

During heavy rainfalls these overflows happen often and on both sides of the border.

In fact on April 15th at the Niagara Falls water treatment plant on the Canadian side of the falls, there was an overflow of 39 million gallons of sewage mixed with rain water.

At the root of this problem is outdated infrastructure. Typically found in older cities, “combined sewer systems” are designed to discharge excess wastewater directly into nearby bodies of water.

Also taking steps to address the issue by greenlighting a new sewage treatment plant in the city’s south end.

All part of a plan to keep contaminated stormwater out of the public’s water.