Woodward Wastewater Treatment Plant currently bypassing; Overflows at two combined sewer overflow tanks

HAMILTON, ON - Beginning at 2:42 pm yesterday afternoon, the Woodward Wastewater Treatment Plant entered by-pass mode.

Bypasses occur in wet weather, when the amount of wastewater entering the sewer system exceeds the capacity of the Woodward Wastewater Treatment Plant. Today’s wet weather and melting snow has exceeded the capacity of the treatment plant.

Also due to the wet weather and melting snow yesterday, both the Main/King and Greenhill combined sewer overflow (CSO) tanks were overflowing.

Once the treatment plant bypass and tank overflows are complete, information about the duration and volume will be added to the website at www.hamilton.ca/wastewatermonitoring

Combined sewer systems are common in older cities like Hamilton. Constructing combined sewers was the accepted building practice for over 100 years, with most older major cities like Toronto, Ottawa, Kingston, Niagara Falls, St. Catharines and Windsor having large combined sewer systems.

Additional resources:

www.hamilton.ca/wastewatermonitoring
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iewH6iJMtS0
www.hamilton.ca/sewersystem