Wastewater System Stabilizing
December 12, 2025
Afternoon Update: Wastewater Situation Improving
December 12, 2025 at 4:30 P.M.
Conditions have continued to improve throughout the day, and we are seeing ongoing reductions in flows across the wastewater system.
We are still discharging partially treated effluent into the Elk River through one remaining discharge point at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and are hopeful that we will be able to close this final release tomorrow morning. Required sampling is underway, and once all discharging has ceased, we will begin the post-spill reporting process with the Environmental Emergencies Branch of the Ministry of Environment.
The discharge point at Dogwood Park was cleaned and the park and adjoining trails and roads reopened to the public earlier today.
As we head into the weekend, City crews will continue monitoring the system closely, adjusting operations where needed, and keeping a close eye on the weather forecast.
We want to emphasize that releasing untreated effluent is always a last resort, used only to prevent much more severe consequences. In this case, it prevented potential catastrophic failure of the City’s two major lift stations, which move all wastewater from town to the treatment plant, as well as failure of the lagoon berms at the treatment plant. A failure of either of these components would have resulted in a much longer inability to treat wastewater and, in historical cases elsewhere in the province, has even required evacuation.
Interior Health has provided the following information regarding potential impacts of effluent discharge and flooding on drinking water:
Flood information for the public (water quality and your health):Floods & Landslides | Natural Disasters & Emergencies | IH
Drinking water resources (including private drinking water): Drinking Water | Environmental Health & Hazards | IH
If you have immediate concerns regarding water quality please reach out Interior Health at EPHDirect@interiorhealth.ca
Thank you to all residents and businesses for your continued efforts to limit water use while we work to bring the system back to full capacity. Your cooperation is appreciated.
We will provide our next update at 10am on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
Morning Update
December 12, 2025 at 9:30 A.M.
Conditions have been trending in the right direction overnight and into this morning. While flows in the wastewater system are still roughly twice normal levels, they have reduced significantly from yesterday’s peak, which was more than five times higher than normal.
We are still discharging untreated effluent to the river, but system improvements overnight have allowed us to close approximately 85% of that discharge. If conditions continue to improve, we expect to fully shut down all remaining discharge points by late this afternoon.
The Dogwood Park discharge point is no longer being used. However, the area remains closed to the public this morning while our vac trucks clean and restore the site to ensure it is safe. We anticipate reopening Dogwood Park, and the adjoining trails, by noon today. Thank you for respecting the closure and giving crews the space they need.
We continue to ask residents and businesses to limit water use while the system is brought back to full capacity.
Thank you for your help while we have been navigating this critical situation. We will provide another update later this afternoon.
Read the previous updates here.
