Hamilton Ontario, Canada – 1-23-2007
Wesroc Construction Ltd. (Wesroc) has been fined $15,000, plus a victim fine surcharge, after pleading guilty to one count of causing the discharge of a material that impaired water quality.
Wesroc is a general contracting business that services Ontario municipalities.
The Court heard that in August 2004, Wesroc was hired to install new municipal water mains on King Street East, between Nash Road and Pottruff Road, in the City of Hamilton. This stretch of road is situated near Red Hill Creek, a watercourse into which municipal storm water sewers drain.
On September 22, 2004, super-chlorinated water was injected into the newly installed water mains and left to stand for a minimum of 24 hours, per standard disinfection procedures.
On September 24, 2004, a director and employee of Wesroc began to drain the super-chlorinated water from the mains. He pumped the liquid into what he believed was a sanitary sewer (i.e. one that discharges to the citys sewage treatment plant). The sewer was in fact a storm water sewer that discharged into Red Hill Creek.
Approximately 20 minutes after the pumping began, distressed and/or dead fish were observed in the creek near the sewers discharge point. The Wesroc employee stopped the pumping as soon as he was notified of the situation.
Following an investigation conducted by the Ministry of the Environments Investigations and Enforcement Branch, a charge was laid.
Wesroc pleaded guilty to one count of causing the discharge of a material that impaired water quality, contrary to section 30(1) of the Ontario Water Resources Act. The company was fined $15,000 for the offence.
The Court was told that the defendant cooperated fully in the cleanup efforts related to this incident.
Justice of the Peace Lillian Ross sentenced the company on December 20, 2006, in the Ontario Court of Justice in Hamilton.
Contact information for media:
John Steele, Communications Branch
Ministry of the Environment
416-314-6666
Contact information for the general public:
416-325-4000 or 1-800-565-4923
Ministry of the Environment
