PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Montreal, July 4, 2016 – The decision of the City of Saint-Hyacinthe to discharge its wastewater into the Yamaska River on June 28, when its water level was at its lowest, caused the mortality of hundreds of fish. This situation was highly predictable. The City was responsible for notifying the Ministry of the Environment and the latter was responsible for monitoring the operation.
The situation is similar to Montreal's "Flushgate", but this time the consequences were rapid and serious. To carry out work at its wastewater treatment plant, the City of Saint-Hyacinthe planned the discharge of 8,500 cubic meters of wastewater at the very time when the flow of the river was at its lowest, at 3 cubic meters per day. second. This deserves exemplary punishment.
The Yamaska River is badly damaged. It is also worth noting the very high number of wastewater overflows during rainy weather, i.e. 651, 632 and 723 respectively in 2015, 2014 and 2013.
In response to these problems, let us remember that the water level of the Yamaska River, downstream of Saint-Hyacinthe, depends significantly on the management of flows at the Pennman dam, operated by the Ontario company Algonquin Power. The flow observed according to data measured by the Center of Water Expertise of the Government of Quebec indicates that it was only 3 cubic meters per second on June 27 and 28 while the reservoir of the hydroelectric power station was filling. It reaches about 12 cubic meters when the hydroelectric plant produces electricity and the water returns to the river. This electricity is sold to Hydro-Québec by the private company and it varies the water levels in order to maximize its profits.
The flow becomes so low in the Yamaska River that the City of Saint-Hyacinthe pays this company to let water flow into the river, compensation to compensate it for its loss of income. In 2014, Fondation Rivières recommended to the government and MPs that the minimum flow in the river be increased in order to meet environmental requirements, before Hydro-Québec renews its electricity purchase contract.
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For informations :
Alain Saladzius
President
514 924-2013
presidency@fondationrivieres.org
