Timmins says raw wastewater overflow started April 18 at Croatia Avenue pump station; end time and volume not yet posted

The City of Timmins says a raw wastewater overflow began at the Croatia Avenue Pump Station at 177 Croatia Ave. at 8:32 a.m. on April 18, and the city’s online report did not yet list an end date, end time, or the volume bypassed.

The city’s Environmental Services Department says overflows can occur when part of the wastewater treatment process is overwhelmed, and it says heavy rainfall or snowmelt are common causes.

In the overflow report posted on the City of Timmins website, the start date and time are listed as April 18 at 8:32 a.m. The fields for end date, end time and volume bypassed were left as “to be determined,” meaning the information had not been posted at the time of the report.

The city’s posting did not identify a specific cause for this April 18 event.

The Environmental Services Department also provided general information about how the system can operate during high flows, saying that during a bypass or overflow, wastewater may be diverted around part of the treatment process to avoid backups or equipment damage.

The city asked residents to conserve water during rainstorms by delaying or limiting non-essential water use, such as doing laundry, taking long showers, or running the dishwasher.

The notice also asked residents to keep pipes clear by not flushing wipes.