Attention to all Aquatic Life, Wildlife, Environmentalists and Water Enthusiasts - and basically everybody else: The City of Montreal will be dumping 8 billion litres of untreated raw sewage directly into the St.Lawrence river starting on Oct. 18 and lasting for a period of one week. This will be approximately the equivalent of 2,600 Olympic-sized pools. An Official for the city stated "The river has a huge dilution capacity. It isn't a major environmental concern." The contaminated waste is expected to follow the usual 'flow' which is roughly a north-easterly direction. Of course, the equilibrium of any water system depends on the quantity of water entering and exiting. The 'playing down' of concerns about the potential impact on Aquatic life, integrated ecosystems and the environment is simply baffling. Untreated fecal material or rather coliforms, adds excess organic material to the water.
The decay of this material depletes the water of oxygen. This lowered oxygen may kill fish and other aquatic life. Am pretty sure that if any other 'dumper' was a company or another local city or town they would be furiously calling for environmental studies and huge fines. The "Beurk" of the week goes to the city of Montreal for not finding any other alternate way for safely disposing or redirecting this waste. Shame on you.
ChateauguayCitizen.com
Addendum Sept 30: The City of Montreal have suspends the planned dumping.
Oct. 2- Montreal City hall City of Montreal approves the proposal to go ahead on the dumping of 8 billion litres of raw sewage into the St-Lawrence river.
The polluting is to start Oct.18th!