The City of Nelson has said the pipeline leak that was spewing millions of litres of sewage into the Kootenay River has been resolved.
On Thursday evening, the city responded to an email from NowMedia requesting an update on the situation, which began on Mar. 27 when a leak was found in the city's wastewater pipeline system that runs along the bottom of the Kootenay River.
The city said a displaced rubber gasket from a previous repair was the cause of the leak.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate and Change told NowMedia on Wednesday that a dive team had succeeded and “stopped the leak with a repair.”
However, the city said the issue resolved itself.
“In all, the displacement of the gasket resulted in an opening not much bigger than the size of a loonie. It is essential to clarify that there was no pipeline failure,” the city explained.
“The rubber gasket naturally repositioned itself back into place, stopping the leak even before the divers arrived on site.”
Divers still went under water to reinforce the gasket to ensure it was stable and are now conducting a “comprehensive” secondary inspection of the entire pipeline.
The map below shows the approximate location of the leak, as provided by the Ministry.
When the Ministry of Environment and Climate and Change first reported the incident in late March, they estimated that 1,000 cubic meters (1,000,000 liters) of sewage was being released per day.
The City of Nelson has called the seepage rate “negligible” given the size and flow rate of the Kootenay River.
“For context, the Kootenay River flow in this location is 36 million cubic metres per day,” the statement said.
Janice Morrison, mayor of Nelson, thanked staff and the dive team for the rapid response to the incident and said the city remains dedicated to environmental stewardship and public safety.
She also explained that the city is planning for the replacement of the impacted pipeline as part of the long-term infrastructure planning.
"I want to acknowledge our staff's swiftness and commitment to maintaining our vital infrastructure," Morrison said.
"We approach these matters with the seriousness they deserve. Remarkably, in this scenario, the solution was found in dilution. I am profoundly grateful for the patience and understanding of our community as we navigate these challenges together."
