After a sewage valve was incorrectly adjusted at the O’Connor lift station back in September 2014, approximately 4100 cubic metres of waste, or the equivalent of two Olympic-sized swimming pools, was emptied into a nearby creek in Kamloops and ultimately into the South Thompson River. Following an environmental assessment of this incident, the City of Kamloops has promised to contribute $20,000 towards rehabilitation work on Tranquille River to improve the fish habitat.
Though a partnership between the Kamloops and District Fish and Game Association, the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc, and Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the City will also enhance alarm systems at all sewer locations to prevent future incidents. The alarm system is expected to cost around $8,000.
In addition, the City has already taken a number of steps to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future, which include disciplinary action and staff training, increased monitoring at all sewer stations, increased signage, and GIS mapping, as well as taking measures to ensure all contaminated materials are disposed of at the Kamloops Sewage Treatment Centre.
It was on May 6th that the City of Kamloops participated in a Community Environmental Justice Forum in regards to the aforementioned incident.
According to the City of Kamloops, the valve adjustment should have been caught and responded to immediately, but it was not.
