Skip to content

Updated: Extent of sewage leak near creek in Red Deer not yet determined

Alberta Environment and city working on remediation plan
web1_170309-RDA--Sewage-leak-
Employees with Penny Steamers and Vacuum Services assist City of Red Deer workers remove sewage from a hole outside the Kinex Arena on Thursday. (Photo by Jeff Stokoe/Advocate staff)

The City of Red Deer is still trying to assess the amount of raw sewage that got into Waskasoo Creek after a blocked line backed up and resulted in a spill.

Tim Ainscough, manager of Environmental Services for the city, said Thursday that they are working with Alberta Environment to come up with a remediation plan.

There was a blockage in a sanitary sewage line under Waskasoo Creek, south of the Kinex Arena. That caused sewage to back up and eventually filled a manhole until it spilled out of the manhole and started flowing down toward the creek.

It’s difficult to know exactly how much of a spill occurred because there’s snow cover on the ground and the creek is frozen, Ainscough said.

He said some sewage probably did get into the creek but they are still trying to verify this. It’s not known yet know when the problem first occurred.

On Wednesday morning a resident contacted the city about the leak and city crews attended right away, he said.

No one has lost any service and there’s no risk of backup into any homes, Ainscough said.