The City of Kawarthas Lakes has announced that both the Fenelon Falls and Lindsay wastewater systems are currently on bypass, releasing untreated sewage into the Fenelon and Scucog rivers respectively as of Thursday morning (April 3).
According to the municipality, both wastewater systems are currently receiving higher-than-normal sewage flows due to extreme wet weather, and the amount of wastewater entering the sewer systems has exceeded the capacity of the systems.
“The impact of the spill on water quality will be minimal given dilution due to significant rainfall,” reads a media release from Kawartha Lakes.
The bypass does not affect homes and businesses connected to municipal water in Fenelon Falls or Lindsay. Their water continues to be safe to drink.
However, Fenelon Falls residents drawing water downstream from the Colborne St. and Francis St. E. sewage pumping stations (bottom side of Fenelon locks), and Lindsay residents drawing water downstream from the Rivera Park sewage pumping station should take precautions.
The Haliburton Kawartha Northumberland Peterborough Health Unit advises anyone who draws water from a river to use a proper filtration and disinfection system before consuming the water. Surface water can always be contaminated by viruses, bacteria, or parasites that can cause illness.
Kawartha Lakes will advise residents in Fenelon Falls and Lindsay when the bypass events have ended.
