MONTREAL, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- The city of Montreal began a controversial process early Wednesday of dumping 2.1 billion gallons of raw sewage into the St. Lawrence River.
Dumping began just after midnight on a project city officials say is necessary to repair aging sewage treatment system equipment, but has drawn considerable criticism from Canadian as well as U.S. officials over concerns the river will be overrun with pollution. The sewage release is expected to last about a week.
"Not only was there no other option, but it was necessary for the future, for the very integrity of the infrastructure," Mayor Denis Coderre said. "We are protecting our river and it's better to have [the discharge] planned than just to react to a [break or rupture] where we might have even more waste water."
City officials said the dumping would have little effect on local fish population and would not affect drinking water, however officials asked city residents to stay out of the water and for residents nearest the discharging sewers to avoid flushing condoms, medications or diapers.
The city doesn't expect lingering strong odor or a change in river color due to the dumping. Richard Fontaine, head of Montreal's waste-water management department, said the white film some people have noticed on the river is phosphorus. He said it was normal, regardless of sewage.
The city took out full-page advertisements in local newspapers telling residents the dumping was necessary, even if it was unfortunate.
