Statement from Mayor Andrea Horwath on Burlington Street Sewage Spill

Hamilton ON – At approximately 4 pm today, I was notified of a sewage spill into Hamilton Harbour in the area of Burlington Street and Wentworth Street that appears to have started in 1996.

In line with my commitment to transparency, I asked that this information be made public immediately. I am concerned about the environmental impacts of this spill, and while we are not yet aware of the total volume of sewage released, I have been informed that it was substantial. I was assured that the nature of the spill makes the risk to human health very low.

I also asked that the City Auditor be brought in to investigate how a spill of this nature could go on for more than 20 years without being detected. I expect that when that report is completed, it will be publicly released.

My promise to Hamiltonians is that the City will continue to make information available to the public as it becomes available.