City of Hamilton charged by provincial authorities over Chedoke Creek sewage leak

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Published December 9, 2020 at 2:09 pm

The City of Hamilton is facing several charges under the Environmental Protection Act related to the leak of approximately 24-billion litres of sewage into Chedoke Creek.

Ontario’s Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) issued the charges Tuesday (Dec. 8), mere weeks after ordering the City to undertake further measures to clean up the waterway.

“The City has fully cooperated with the MECP’s investigation and is invested in achieving the best possible outcomes for Chedoke Creek and Cootes Paradise,” said a City press release issued Wednesday (Dec. 9).

“At this time, the City is reviewing the charges and associated materials received from the MECP.”

In an emailed statement to IntheHammer, an MECP spokesperson said:

“Following an investigation by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, on December 8, 2020, the City of Hamilton was charged with one alleged violation under the Environmental Protection Act and one alleged violation under the Ontario Water Resources Act.

“The charges relate to discharging raw sewage into Chedoke Creek which may have impaired water quality and caused an adverse effect.”

In late 2019, the City revealed the discovery of a leak of billions of litres of stormwater runoff and sewage into Chedoke Creek over a span of more than four years.

The leak — which was the result of sewer overflow tank gate being left partially open since 2014 — was initially discovered in July 2018 and stopped immediately and, according to the City, reported to provincial authorities.

Shortly after the City released some details of the leak to the public, a subsequent report from The Hamilton Spectator revealed that a concerted effort was made at City Hall to keep news of the spill from the public, particularly the details surrounding its scope.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger and council members maintained that they were advised by environmental lawyers to keep things quiet until the results of a Ministry of Environment investigation were made available. They have since issued an apology.

Since the leak was reported to the province, MECP has been investigating the incident and has since ordered appropriate studies on the health of and remediation of the West Hamilton waterway.

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