Timmins reports 8,981.629 m³ wastewater bypass at Mattagami plant on Aug. 23

The City of Timmins reports that 8,981.629 cubic metres of wastewater was bypassed at the Mattagami Water Pollution Control Plant in Timmins on Aug. 23.

The report outlines the timing and volume of the bypass and provides a general explanation of how bypasses can occur at municipal wastewater systems.

According to the city’s Environmental Services Department, the event took place at the Mattagami Water Pollution Control Plant at 551 Airport Road. The city reported the bypass began at 11:46 a.m. on Aug. 23 and ended at 10:05 p.m.

The report lists the “volume by-passed” as 8,981.629 m³.

In its explanation included with the report, the city said municipal wastewater is 99% water, including stormwater and water from homes and businesses such as washing and flushing.

The city said a bypass or overflow can occur when a treatment plant or treatment process is overwhelmed, and that these events are often caused by heavy rainfall or snowmelt.

The city also said that during a bypass or overflow, partially treated wastewater is diverted away from a treatment process to prevent backups, overflows, or damage to the system.

The report was posted on the City of Timmins website with an on-page timestamp reading “Today at 9:27 AM.”