WWF-Canada statement on Environment Canada’s decision to allow the City of Montreal to dump raw sewage in the St. Lawrence River

WWF

Toronto, November 10, 2015 – In response to Environment Canada’s final Order requiring the City of Montreal to modify its plans to discharge eight billion litres of untreated wastewater into the St. Lawrence River, World Wildlife Fund Canada issued the following statement from President and CEO, David Miller:

“The dumping of raw municipal sewage is a significant threat to the health of Canadian freshwater lakes and rivers, and is a practice that cannot be condoned or encouraged.

While acknowledging the numerous conditions placed by the Minister on the proposed release of eight billion litres of raw sewage by the City of Montreal, WWF-Canada remains opposed to this action and urges the City of Montreal to seek other solutions. Solutions that allow people and nature to thrive do exist and we support efforts towards that vision.

The threat of pollution from untreated discharge of municipal waste is a systemic and growing problem in Canada.  Many municipalities regularly discharge wastewater into the environment, and a combination of growing populations and climate change along with aging infrastructure – makes this an urgent issue that needs to be tackled head-on.”

WWF-Canada’s own threats assessments for the St. Lawrence River Watershed Report demonstrates the level of pollution is already very high in the Montreal region, mainly due to very high levels of agricultural runoff and pollution from municipal and industrial sites.
 
About WWF-Canada
WWF-Canada is part of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and is creating solutions to the most serious conservation challenges facing our planet to help people and nature thrive. www.wwf.ca
 
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References:
St. Lawrence Watershed Pollution
St. Lawrence Watershed Health
 
Media contact:
Rowena Calpito, WWF-Canada, Communications Specialist, 416-489-4567 ext 7267, [email protected]
Sophie Paradis, Directrice pour le Québec, WWF-Canada, (514) 603-7627, [email protected]