MONTREAL – U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (Dem-NY) is calling Montreal’s decision to allow eight billion litres of raw sewage to pour directly into the Saint-Lawrence River irresponsible.
In a press released obtained by Global News, the senator is urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to intervene and “stop the City of Montreal’s plan.”
READ MORE: Documents show Environment Canada knew about Montreal raw-sewage plan in 2014
“The dumping of raw sewage could impact the river’s water quality, the surrounding ecosystems, the community and the infusion of tourism dollars that flow into Saint Lawrence County each and every year because of the Saint Lawrence’s beauty,” the release stated.
Senator Schumer is the latest voice being added to a growing list of people furious with Montreal for giving the green light to pollute the river.
Environmental activist Erin Brockovich wrote on her Facebook page, “This is pure TNT (turds n’ tampons)… as bad as it gets folks.”
But not everyone is ringing the alarm bells.
READ MORE: Federal government speaks out against Montreal sewage dump
A waste water expert from the University of Montreal’s engineering school, École Polytechnique, told Global News that Montreal has no choice.
Sarah Dorner argued the city needs to repair an aging and fragile 35 kilometre underground sewage pipe.
The only way to fix the pipe is to empty the eight billion litres of waste water for seven days.
“There are potentially technical solutions possible, but they’re not feasible. We’re talking about sewage trucks that would have to leave every second. It’s just not feasible,” Dorner told Global News.
READ MORE: Montreal to dump 8 billion litres of raw sewage into Saint-Lawrence River
Montreal has already dumped billions of litres of sewage into the river twice before: in 2003 and 2007.
Victoria, B.C. pours approximately 130 million litres of raw sewage into the Pacific Ocean every day as it doesn’t have a sewage treatment facility.
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