The City of Ottawa is facing charges of violating provincial environmental laws in its operation of the Lemieux Island Water Purification Plant and the Richmond Pumping Station.
In a memo to council Thursday, city solicitor Rick O’Connor said the Ministry of Environment commenced prosecutions in connection with one charge related to the purification plant and four involving the pumping station.
The purification plant charge alleges that in 2008, between Sept. 1 and 10, the city “failed to comply” with changes to operations relating to a procedure involving the discharge of “backwater,” contrary to the Safe Drinking Water Act.
On Sept. 10, 2008, about 500 cubic metres of backwater was discharged into the Ottawa River. At the time, council was told the issue had been addressed through “corrective action” and the quality of water had not been affected.
In the case of the pumping station, the charges involved allegations that, from Jan. 3-7 of last year and again on April 13, an odour was released “that caused or was likely to cause an adverse affect” in violation of the Environmental Protection Act.
O’Connor told councillors the city faces a maximum fine of $100,000 a day for a first conviction under safe drinking water legislation, and up to $250,000 a day on subsequent offences.
Convictions under the Environmental Protection Act are less onerous. The city faces a minimum fine of $25,000 for a first conviction, $50,000 for a second and $100,000 on subsequent convictions.
However, O’Connor said the city’s legal and environmental departments will work closely to formulate the municipality’s response to the charges.
In April 2007, the city was fined $65,000 after pleading guilty to one charge under the Environmental Protection Act in connection with complaints from Richmond-area residents of foul odours from the pumping station.
The city is to appear in court on these new charges on Feb. 25.