Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

Hamilton Water

Hamilton exploring relief programs as unpaid water bills soar

Hamilton exploring relief programs as unpaid water bills soar

The City of Hamilton is examining the possibility of new relief or rebate programs to help low-income residents amidst a surge in the number of unpaid water bills. Senior policy advisor John Savoie says such arrears have soared in Hamilton in recent years, reaching 20,000 accounts last year with total unpaid amounts hitting $4.4 million. “Unpaid after 60 days, it gets transferred to the property’s tax roll,” said Savoie. “We have seen over the last five years or so, the number and the value of those tax roll transfers have more than doubled.” Savoie added that 90 per cent of last year’s unpaid water bills were residential.

Scope, direction of Hamilton sewer inquiry still up in the air

Scope, direction of Hamilton sewer inquiry still up in the air

The director of Hamilton Water Nick Winters is recommending a risk-based strategy to long-term inspection of Hamilton’s 1,841 kilometres of sewers, with the director suggesting a new type of inspection system may have to be created. The approach is in contrast to the initial action plan promised by Ontario Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) David Piccini Nov. 24, two days after Hamilton Water staff discovered a 26-year-old misalignment of sewer and storm sewer pipes that has resulted in sewage being funnelled from an east Hamilton neighbourhood into Hamilton Harbour.

Hamilton estimates 337 million litres of sewage spilled into harbourfront since 1996

Hamilton estimates 337 million litres of sewage spilled into harbourfront since 1996

The City of Hamilton estimates 337 million litres of sewage — roughly 135 Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of sewage — flowed into the harbour since 1996. That's roughly 13 million litres per year for 26 years. "City staff developed this estimate based on the water meter usage data for all of the properties connected to the combined sewer pipe," read a media release from the city on Monday morning, adding this method was identified as the most accurate way to represent the discharge over the 26 years.

City of Hamilton discovers 26-year leak of sewage into Hamilton Harbour

City of Hamilton discovers 26-year leak of sewage into Hamilton Harbour

The City of Hamilton says it has just discovered sewage has been leaking into the Hamilton Harbour for 26 years because of a hole in a combined sewage pipe in the industrial sector. It's unclear how much sewage has spilled into the harbour. But Nick Winters, director of Hamilton Water, told reporters on Tuesday afternoon "it's going to be a big number," adding the city will publicly release the number as soon as they have it.

Royal Botanical Gardens says 'considerable sewage' still spilling into Cootes Paradise

Royal Botanical Gardens says 'considerable sewage' still spilling into Cootes Paradise

"We ran into these clumps of algae everywhere. They're brown clumps with algae on it as opposed to algae in clumps," Wayne said. "Just the idea of what happened in [Chedoke Creek], we're out of here. I don't want to come back. It just feels gross, like I want to go home and shower." Andrew Grice, director of Hamilton Water, said the city was looking into concerns about the water raised late last week and earlier on Tuesday, but said this isn't a spill. He says it's dark, older algae that may have floated to the surface due to low lake levels and weather conditions.

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