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THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF ARNPRIOR FINED $50,000 FOR DISCHARGING SEWAGE INTO THE MADAWASKA RIVER
RENFREW — The Corporation of the Township of Arnprior was fined $50,000 today after pleading guilty to violations under the Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA) and the Environmental Protection Act (EPA).
The town owns and operates the Arnprior Water Pollution Control Plant. Raw untreated municipal sewage from the town is collected by sewers and pumped to the control plant for treatment. Sewage from the south-east portion of the town is pumped across the Madawaska River to the control plant through a sewage force main which travels along the bottom of that river.
In June 2003, employees of the town’s public works department noticed a reduction in flows entering the control plant and commenced a survey of the works to determine where sewage may be going. There was no finding at that time. On July 10, 2003, it became clear to the town that there were no flows coming from the sewage force main to the control plant, despite the fact that all pumps were operating. Staff concluded that the only explanation was that there was a break in the sewage force main and immediately notified the Ministry of the Environment and the Renfrew County District Health Unit. A Provincial Officer’s Order was subsequently issued to the town requiring it to immediately ensure control measures were implemented to minimize and eliminate the raw sewage discharge into the Madawaska River. An investigation by the MOE’s Investigations and Enforcement Branch determined that from June 15 to July 14, 2003, raw sewage was discharged from the sewage force main into the Madawaska River.
On October 7, 2005, the town pleaded guilty to one count of discharging sewage into the Madawaska River contrary to Section 30 of the OWRA. The town was fined $40,000, plus victim fine surcharge. It also pleaded guilty to failing to do everything practicable to prevent, eliminate and ameliorate the adverse effect, contrary to Section 93(1) of the EPA and was fined an additional $10,000, plus victim fine surcharge for a total of $50,000 in fines.
Justice of the Peace Barry Moran heard the pleas and sentencing submissions in the Ontario Court of Justice in Renfrew, Ontario.