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The City of Ottawa faces two charges under the Ontario Water Resources Act after a massive sewage spill into the Ottawa River two summers ago.
The charges, laid by the Ministry of the Environment following an investigation, relate to the spill between Aug. 4 and Aug. 15, 2006, said a ministry news release Thursday.
One count is for allegedly causing or permitting the discharge of sewage into the river that could “impair the quality of the water,” contrary to Section 30 (1) of the act.
The other count is for failing to notify the ministry of the spill when it was discovered, on Aug. 15, as required by Section 30 (2).
The spill, estimated at 1.2 billion litres, was blamed for bacterial contamination at Petrie Island beach downstream, resulting in 45 days of no-swimming advisories.
Maximum fine: $72M
If convicted, the city will face fines of $25,000 to $6,000,000 for each day or partial day of the spill, the release said. That could amount to between $300,000 and $72 million.
The spill, caused by a jammed sewage gate, became public just two months ago. A City of Ottawa worker was fired after it came to light that he failed to immediately alert the Ministry of the Environment about the spill as he was supposed to and as he claimed to have done.
The ministry was officially notified in May 2007.
(C) CBC News