August 2009


Councillors reject Kanata development ban
Feltmate's proposal unnecessary and drastic, west-side officials say

Ottawa Citizen, August 26, 2009
Patrick Dare

OTTAWA - Kanata South Councillor Peggy Feltmate introduced her proposed development moratorium Tuesday at city council's planning and environment committee, but it got a cool reception from west-side councillors.

Councillors welcomed a separate motion to focus the city's sewer budget for next year on sewer improvements for the west side to ease the flooding that's hit the area. Most recently, on July 24, an intense rainstorm resulted in approximately 1,000 homes being flooded.

But councillors said throwing a stop-development blanket on the growth areas of Kanata and Stittsville, as suggested by Feltmate, is too much.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Councillors+reject+Kanata+development/1929911/story.html

City rolls out look at hybrid fleet future

Ottawa Citizen, August 26, 2009
Patrick Dare

The City of Ottawa got a stark look at just how out of date its fleet management is with a visit by green vehicle manufacturers to 110 Laurier Ave. West on Wednesday.

Generating most interest at the event outside City Hall were two electric resurfacing machines for arena ice. To politicians it was a novelty worthy of a group picture with Somerset Councillor Diane Holmes in the driver's seat.

But the two manufacturers, Zamboni and Icecat, said they've been making the machines for years and selling them to other municipalities in Canada.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/cars/City+rolls+look+hybrid+fleet+future/1932247/story.html

City of Ottawa all talk, no walk on environment: Doucet

Ottawa Citizen, August 25, 2009
Patrick Dare

The City of Ottawa talks big about being a green city and saving the environment but little progress has been made in the last decade, says Councillor Clive Doucet.

Doucet was reacting Tuesday to a report at city council's planning and environment committee titled "Refresh the City's Environmental Strategy." That document uses inspiring phrases to describe the city's environmental vision. Goals are "a green city," "development in harmony with the environment," "a focus on walking, cycling and transit" and "clean air, water and earth."

But Doucet says the strategy was created in 2003 and "nothing significant" has been done for the environment since then.

"We're refreshing what?" said Doucet, adding he couldn't take the report seriously.

He said the city vowed 10 years ago to be a transit-first community but has built big new roads and allowed rampant big-box development instead. He said the city hasn't kept up with other cities in terms of green-roof development or improved safety for cyclists.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/City+Ottawa+talk+walk+environment+Doucet/1928855/story.html

Stittsville residents, city legal department challenge developer's 'pedestrian-oriented' condo project
Orville Station would be built with fewer parking spots than city requires

Ottawa Citizen, August 20, 2009
Maria Cook

With all the talk about creating pedestrian-oriented communities, should a developer be allowed to put in fewer parking spots than required by city zoning?

The developer of Orville Station, a proposed 36-unit condominium project in Stittsville, received permission to do that last June from the City of Ottawa's committee of adjustment, which approved 15 minor variances.

But, the city's legal department and the Stittsville Village Association are now challenging the decision at the Ontario Municipal Board. No date has been set yet for a hearing.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/ottawa/Stittsville+residents+city+legal+department+challenge+developer+pedestrian+oriented+condo+project/1913771/story.html

Green energy projects will lead to job boom, Smitherman says

Ottawa Citizen, August 19, 2009
Patrick Dare

Renewable energy projects can create 50,000 jobs in Ontario and help the province finally shut down its coal power plants, Energy and Infrastructure Minister George Smitherman told municipal leaders Wednesday.

Smitherman said energy and public infrastructure can be key parts of the economic recovery in the province. And he announced that the Ontario Power Authority will cover costs for municipalities when renewable energy projects create problems such as roads that have to be moved.

Smitherman, talking to reporters, said some residents oppose green energy projects in their backyards but most strongly support renewable power.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Green+energy+projects+will+lead+boom+Smitherman+says/1908811/story.html

Editorial: Old thinking on sewage

Ottawa Citizen, August 19, 2009

Knoxdale-Merivale Councillor Gord Hunter is a useful voice on council.

When his colleagues get carried away with spending on occasion, Hunter brings them back down to Earth. He leads by example, for his office spending is quite often the lowest of all his colleagues.

But the councillor is way off base in his recent comments about spending enormous amounts of taxpayer money cleaning up E. coli and sewage. Millions of litres of raw effluent have found their way into the Ottawa River due to faulty equipment, human error and a sewer system overwhelmed quite frequently by rainstorms.

And of course there are the soluble chemicals that flow through the treatment system and trace base metals that do the same. Plus land runoff from streets and through storm sewers pours petroleum-related pollutants, fertilizers and pet excrement into the river. Making our river healthy is not a simple process.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/thinking+sewage/1906997/story.html

Editorial: Refreshing talk on rail

Ottawa Citizen, August 19, 2009

Thank goodness someone is crunching numbers on the Ottawa light-rail project. That person is Municipal Affairs Minister Jim Watson and his elves at Queen's Park who are putting some sanity into this rush for expensive rapid transit.

Watson, a former mayor, says there were public concerns about costs in the first cancelled light-rail plan, which weighed in at $884 million. He's right.

To be more specific, city staff had estimated that the north-south plan would cost somewhere in the range of $600 million. However when the competitive bidding process took place, it became apparent that the staff estimates were about $200 million too low. That spooked the public, and politicians capitalized on the escalating costs -- not the least of whom were Mayor Larry O'Brien and Transport Minister John Baird, the top local federal minister.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Refreshing+talk+rail/1906996/story.html

New tree bylaw takes effect Sept. 1

Ottawa Sun, August 19, 2009

As of next month, urban landowners will face new restrictions when it comes to cutting down trees on private property.

The city's Urban Tree Conservation bylaw, passed through Council in June, takes full effect Sept. 1.

Under the bylaw, owners of urban properties larger than one hectare are required to produce a City-approved tree conservation report before removing any tree larger than 10 cm in diameter.

Most rural areas are exempt, and the law does not apply to normal farming practices, orchards, tree farms, golf courses or cemeteries within city limits.

Unauthorized destruction or removal of trees could result in a fine ranging from $500 to $100,000. The fine could be higher if the offender is contravening a stop work order.

More information is available at www.ottawa.ca/urbantree.

http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2009/08/19/10521761.html

Now House cuts energy needs by 87 per cent

Metro Ottawa, August 19, 2009
Tracey Tong

With a little help from the Ontario Power Authority, Hydro Ottawa and Whirlpool Canada, an Overbrook-area home has undergone an extreme energy home makeover.

After spending more than a month upgrading a 60-year-old wartime-style house at 954 Beaudry Ave., Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) unveiled the city's first near-zero-energy-cost house.

Prior to the $90,000 renovation, the 1.5-storey house had an energy efficiency rating of 55 out of 100 and produced over 12 tonnes of green house gas emissions, said Lorraine Gauthier with the Now House Project.

Today, with all the leaks in the walls and windows sealed off, high efficiency appliances, heating and ventilation and solar thermal and photovoltaic panel, the home cut its energy requirement by 87 per cent and cut green house gas emissions to less than two tonnes per year.

http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/local/article/286592--now-house-cuts-energy-needs-by-87-per-cent

No blank cheque for light rail: Watson
Province wants assurances cost won't soar, minister says

Ottawa Citizen, August 18, 2009
Patrick Dare

Ontario Municipal Affairs Minister Jim Watson says he wants to make sure Ottawa's proposed transit tunnel is not a money pit before committing to the city's ambitious transit plan.

Watson, speaking to reporters Monday after addressing the Association of Municipalities of Ontario annual convention in Ottawa, said provincial government staff are continuing to scrutinize the proposed plan, which includes a tunnel downtown for a light-rail service.

He said he is concerned about the affordability of the plan because the city's original project for north-south rail -- scrapped by the current council -- was a $1-billion project while the current, more extensive plan is close to $5 billion.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/blank+cheque+light+rail+Watson/1903431/story.html

Green proposal delays Ottawa building permit

CBC News, August 18, 2009

An Ottawa couple is frustrated by the long wait for a building permit after deciding to use a new, environmentally friendly material in their new basement.

Bruce Craig and Lucy Webster said they have been waiting since early June for their permit. Now that the building season is coming to a close, they are frustrated that their new basement is still just a large pit in their Westboro backyard, just west of downtown Ottawa.

"We've very stuck," Webster said.

According to the City of Ottawa, building permits can be issued in as little as 10 days, but the city makes no guarantees.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/08/18/ottawa-090818.html

McGuinty's home flooded during recent rains

Ottawa Citizen, August 18, 2009
Patrick Dare

Climate change is hitting home for Premier Dalton McGuinty this summer as his residence in Alta Vista has been flooded.

McGuinty told reporters at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference Tuesday that recent heavy rains in Ottawa have caused basement flooding in his home and he has called a contractor to repair the exterior foundation.

"When my son's bed was floating I thought it was time to do something," said a smiling McGuinty.

He said the flooding has not involved sewage and he isn't certain when it began.

But he said the experience is a reminder that climate change is real and that it will mean more severe weather, rather than simply warmer weather.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/McGuinty+home+flooded+during+recent+rains/1905973/story.html

La menace du smog encore présente

Le Droit, le 17 août 2009
Caroline Barrière

C'est le temps chaud et humide, jumelé à la densité de la circulation routière entre Gatineau et Ottawa qui a entraîné une détérioration de la qualité de l'air et marqué le retour des épisodes de smog comme celui que la région a connu au cours des derniers jours. L'Ontario avait émis un avis de smog pour samedi et dimanche. Il a été levé hier avant-midi en raison de l'arrivée de nuages au-dessus de la capitale.

Forme de pollution atmosphérique qui est constituée de nombreux polluants dont les deux principaux éléments sont l'ozone au niveau du sol (O3) et les particules (PM), le smog apparaît souvent comme une brume jaunâtre ou brunâtre au-dessus des villes et il a comme effet de limiter la vision dans l'atmosphère. Il se déplace au gré des vents et peut toucher les zones urbaines et rurales. Il peut être présent pendant toute l'année mais il n'est pas toujours visible puisqu'il s'agit d'un mélange de polluants atmosphériques dont des gaz et des particules qui ne peuvent être détectées à l'oeil nu. Il est davantage présent durant les périodes de temps chaud et ensoleillé entre mai et septembre quand la haute atmosphère est chaude. Une période de smog peut durer de quelques heures à une semaine. Son intensité dépend de certaines conditions météorologiques, de l'heure du jour, de la saison et de la distance par rapport aux sources de polluants.

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-droit/actualites/actualites-nationales/200908/17/01-893425-la-menace-du-smog-encore-presente.php

Solar farm takes root in Arnprior

Ottawa Sun, August 16, 2009
Rob Thomas

The view at Galetta Side Rd. and Hwy. 7 in West Carleton might prompt a double-take or two. That's where 200 acres of farmland is sprouting row upon row of steel posts.

"This is just a new way of farming. We're farming energy," Jon Kieran said of the field that was thick with corn this time last year.

Kieran is the country manager of EDF EN Canada, an affiliate of the French renewable-energy company EDF Group.

He said by year's end the steel posts will support 312,000 solar panels and form the largest solar farm of its kind in Canada. At peak capacity it will produce 20 MW -- enough energy to power 7,000 households.

http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2009/08/16/10480806.html

Neighbours reflect on energy project

Ottawa Sun, August 16, 2009
Rob Thomas

Neighbours of a West Carleton solar farm aren't rolling out the welcome mat just yet but they aren't brandishing pitchforks and torches either.

Stephanie Faint lives kitty-corner to the farm fields, planted with steel mounting posts and surrounded by a barbed-wire fence.

"I'm all for solar energy but I wouldn't mind if it looked a little bit less like an industrial area," Faint said. "I think it's really going to reduce the value of my house."

http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2009/08/16/10480821.html

Cities dust off old studies for fresh look

Ottawa Citizen, August 15, 2009
Mike De Souza, Canwest News Service

A train trip from downtown Montreal to downtown Toronto, with a stop in the nation's capital, in two hours and 18 minutes is a far cry from the options travellers now have.

Passengers in the country's most heavily populated markets don't have an electrified high-speed train able to coast at speeds of up to 300 km/h.

And consider the possibility of a trip from downtown Quebec City to downtown Montreal in one hour and 12 minutes; or a trip between Toronto and Windsor, Ont., in one hour and 24 minutes.

All of these scenarios are within reach and could provide an alternative to the stress of a highway drive or the hassles of getting to an airport and through its security, according to a 1995 report sponsored by Quebec, Ontario and the federal government on the feasibility of a high-speed passenger rail line between Quebec City and Windsor.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/dies+after+being+Train/1898219/story.html

Gatineau beach closed over blue-green algae

CBC News, August 14, 2009

A beach at Gatineau Park's Meech Lake has been closed after a bloom of blue-green algae was found near the edge of the beach, the National Capital Commission said Friday afternoon.

Blue-green algae, also known as "pond scum," can range in colour from olive-green to red and produce toxins that can cause health risks to both humans and animals.

O'Brien Beach was closed after the bloom of cynobacteria was reported for health and safety reasons, the NCC said in a media release.

Blanchet Beach at Meech Lake and the beaches at lakes Philippe and La Pêche are still open to swimmers.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/08/14/ottawa-beach-closed-gatineau.html

NCC open to twinning paths
All options on table to ease friction among pedestrians, cyclists, scooter riders

Ottawa Citizen, August 14, 2009
Kelly Egan

Chief executive says issue on agenda for commission, 13 municipalities

The National Capital Commission is open to twinning some of its recreational pathways to handle the capital's thriving cycling community, says chief executive Marie Lemay.

"I think we have to look at all the options," said Lemay. "Twinning is one we have to consider, where we can."

Lemay was responding Thursday to an outpouring of reaction to Citizen stories about friction between competing users of its 180-kilometre pathway system.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/open+twinning+paths/1890826/story.html

Twinning crowded NCC pathways 'the way to go,' Dewar says
No plans, at this time, to separate cyclists from slower-moving traffic: commission

Ottawa Citizen, August 13, 2009
Cassandra Drudi

The NCC's crowded recreational pathways should be twinned to separate faster-moving wheeled traffic from pedestrians, says Ottawa Centre NDP MP Paul Dewar.

"Clearly, this is the way to go," he said Wednesday. "Pedestrians do have concerns about bikes. And people who are travelling on the bike paths decide sometimes to go on the roadway.

"We're using our bike paths more and more, and we have to increase capacity, but we can't forget about who uses it."

Dewar, who held a cycling summit in May, released a report last week that recommended ways to improve cycling inOttawa. It proposed improvement in four main areas: treating cycling as an integral part of the city's overall transit plan; educating cyclists and motorists; linking the suburbs to the core for cyclists; and maintaining cycling facilities year-round.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Twinning+crowded+pathways+Dewar+says/1887003/story.html

Editorial: Up the creek

Ottawa Citizen, August 13, 2009

Just how often must the Glen Cairn neighbourhood flood before the city does something about it?

At least three times, because that is how many floods have occurred in the community during the last 13 years. That's three too many.

It is, after all, the 21st century, so most urban areas have moved away from throwing pails of human excrement out the windows as they did in the Middle Ages. Now, instead, we back it up inside people's homes. That this was unacceptable centuries ago shows just how primitive the city's response has been to Glen Cairn sewage backup.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/creek/1887052/story.html

Montreal's Bixi bikes going international
Bicycle rental program expands to London and Boston

CBC News, August 12, 2009

Montreal's Bixi bike-rental program is going international, with contracts to set up similar programs in London and Boston.

The City of Montreal said it will also submit a bid when New York City issues a call this fall for tenders for a bike-rental system.

Working with London-based services company Serco, Bixi will create a network of 6,000 bikes, 400 docking stations and 10,000 docking points for the English capital by 2010.

In Boston, Bixi will set up and operate a bike-share system in the central city, and it has the right to negotiate to expand to neighbouring municipalities. The central Boston plan calls for 2,500 bikes, 290 stations and 3,750 docking points, with the potential to expand to 5,000 bikes.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2009/08/12/bixi-bikes.html

Gatineau to track sewage dumped in Ottawa River

CBC News, August 12, 2009

The City of Gatineau wants to find out how much raw sewage it is flushing into the Ottawa River.

The city issued a call for tender Tuesday seeking the services of a company that can collect and provide such data.

Louise Lavoie, the city's director of environmental services, said Wednesday that Gatineau needs the numbers because it wants to take measures to reduce its sewage overflows. Those measures could cost millions of dollars, so the city needs to know what type of intervention will have the greatest impact and be the most cost effective.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/08/12/gatineau-090812-sewage-discharge-ottawa-river.html

Councillor never saw report
Kanata South's Peggy Feltmate wonders if recommended work done in flooded ward

Ottawa Citizen, August 11, 2009, B1
Patrick Dare

The councillor for Glen Cairn, a community hit by flooding for the third time in 13 years, says she was not given a report from 2003 that detailed the high risk of flooding in the neighbourhood and possible fixes.

Peggy Feltmate, who represents Kanata South, said Monday she was not aware of a 2003 Cumming Coburn report commissioned by the city that described how low-lying southern streets in Glen Cairn are "an area with a high flooding risk for properties," and that "remedial flood control measures are needed to minimize the flooding risk."

Those same streets -- such as Dundegan Drive and Glamorgan Drive -- were among the hardest hit during an intense rainstorm on July 24. Homeowners found their basements backed up with more than a metre of stormwater and sewage. Some have no insurance due to repeated flooding and have lost tens of thousands of dollars worth of goods and furnishings.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Councillor+never+report/1879858/story.html

Carp River group files appeal with OMB on proposed Fernbank development

Ottawa Citizen, August 8, 2009
Kate Jaimet

As the mop-up continues in flood-ravaged neighbourhoods of Kanata and Stittsville, the Ontario Municipal Board is preparing to hear an appeal that challenges the city's plan to develop the nearby Fernbank area, and argues that piecemeal planning along the Carp River watershed could lead to more flooding problems.

The Carp River Coalition filed its appeal of the city's master plan for Fernbank development on July 23, just one day before torrential rains inundated hundreds of basements in Glen Cairn and other parts of Kanata as well as Stittsville and West Carleton. A hearing date for the appeal before the provincial board, which can overrule city council planning decisions, has not been set.

West Carleton Councillor Eli El-Chantiry said that he is not aware of the appeal, but that the city may have to re-think its development of Fernbank, separately from the OMB process, based on the analysis of the July 24 flood. City staff expect to have that analysis finished by the end of this month.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Carp+River+group+files+appeal+with+proposed+Fernbank+development/1871691/story.html

Councillor seething over minister's sewage remarks
'We're being smeared,' Hume says of Watson's call for system fix

Ottawa Citizen, August 8, 2009
Patrick Dare

The chairman of Ottawa's planning and environment committee is fighting mad that Municipal Affairs Minister Jim Watson has "attacked" the city over its performance on sewage treatment on the eve of a major municipal conference in the city.

Councillor Peter Hume says Watson is wrong when he says the city lacks a plan to deal with sewage flowing into the Ottawa River. And Hume says he does not understand how the minister, who represents Ottawa and used to be mayor here, could have made the mistake.

"None of it is true. We're being smeared," said Hume, who is also president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. "It's smearing the reputation of the City of Ottawa unfairly. It can't go unanswered.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/Councillor+seething+over+minister+sewage+remarks/1873255/story.html

Ottawa's latest sewage spill: 30M litres into river

Ottawa Sun, August 4, 2009
Derek Puddicombe

The record summer rainfall has turned the Ottawa River into a sewage dumping ground.

City officials are reporting another 29 million litres of combined sewage and stormwater overflow made its way into the river after the most recent heavy rains, on Sunday.

It brings the total this year to about 784 million litres of sewage/stormwater overflow that has spilled into the river. In a normal year, about 400 million litres of untreated effluent flows into the river.

Both beaches at Petrie Island in the west-end have been closed to swimmers for the past four days. Ottawa's medical officer of health ordered the swimming areas closed after 6.5 million litres of raw sewage was dumped into the water Friday. A large steel plate blocked a pipe that carries 20% of the city's sewage to an east-end wastewater treatment facility.

http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2009/08/04/10358251.html

Walk/bike to work for fitness

Metro Ottawa, August 4, 2009
Celia Milne

Can't squeeze fitness into your day? Just walk to work.

A new U.S. study has found that "active commuting" - walking or riding a bike to work, even if it's only part of the way - boosts health and fitness levels.

Researchers in Chapel Hill, N.C., studied the commuting habits of 2,364 people who were enrolled in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. They then measured their height, weight, blood pressure and fitness levels.

Men who either walked to work or rode their bike to work had lower obesity levels as well as lower triglycerides (fat in the blood), lower blood pressure, and lower blood glucose levels. The effect was not as strong in women.

The average length of activity was 20 minutes for men and 17 minutes for women. "Ultimately it would be wonderful to see more people walking and biking to work, but to make this happen, we need to make walking and biking safe and accessible by reducing environmental barriers to activity," says Dr. Penny Gordon-Larsen (PhD), lead author of the study.

http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/live/article/272881--walk-bike-to-work-for-fitness

Bike-share trial program rolling along

Ottawa Citizen, August 3, 2009, page B5
Cassandra Drudi

The trial bike-share program in the national capital region is rolling along without hitting any potholes, the National Capital Commission says.

Nearly 3,000 trips have been made with the 50 bike-share bicycles since the program launched in June, according to the NCC, which is running the program in conjunction with the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau.

"We are very pleased with the system and with the reception it has been getting from residents and visitors in the capital," said Jean Wolff, spokesman for the commission. "Factoring in both the weather and the fact that it is a small project for a feasibility study, we think it is quite good."

As of July 27, the fleet of 50 bikes had been taken out for 2,747 trips, for an average of between 50 and 60 trips a day, according to NCC figures.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/todays-paper/Bike+share+trial+program+rolling+along/1855327/story.html

Government buildings in need of energy upgrades

Ottawa Citizen, August 3, 2009
Cassandra Drudi

The federal government is looking for help from private sector companies to upgrade the heating and cooling plants that serve more than 100 government buildings in the capital. "Some of these buildings are over 150 years old, using technology from the 1950s - it is time to rethink how we do things," Public Works Minister Christian Paradis said in a press release. Paradis' ministry sent out a "request for information" last week, looking for companies that might be interested in the work. Public Works operates seven plants that produce steam, hot water and chilled water serving government buildings on five major networks in the city. The amount of energy used by the plants each year is about equal to the energy that would be required to heat and cool 28,000 homes, according to a ministry spokeswoman. The buildings served by the seven plants include more than 50 buildings in downtown Ottawa, 18 buildings at Tunney's Pasture, 15 buildings at Confederation Heights, 11 buildings at the Natural Resources Canada complex on Booth Street and four buildings at RCMP headquarters on Vanier Parkway. Public Works says the plants will require major investments to improve their efficiency, both energy and environmental. The Request for Information has been posted to merx.com. Interested companies will have until the end of October to submit information to Public Works.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Government+buildings+need+energy+upgrades/1855165/story.html

System foul-up sees raw sewage dumped into Ottawa River

Ottawa Citizen, August 1, 2009, page C1
Patrick Dare, with files from David Reevely

If they aren't there already, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his family may want to head to Harrington Lake for the holiday weekend to avoid an unpleasant sewage spill near 24 Sussex Drive.

Raw sewage ran into the Ottawa River at the Keefer regulator, a component of the city's sewer system just east of Rideau Falls, from 12:45 a.m. until city crews were able to stop it at 4 p.m., city officials said in a Friday afternoon news conference.

The city is upgrading the regulator, which is meant to allow waste to run into the river only when there's too much to handle, so that such needless spills don't happen. But somehow a steel plate got stuck in a large steel shaft that brings waste down to a sewer line that runs on to the city's sewage-treatment plant in Gloucester. The sewage then went into the bypass, directly into the river.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/todays-paper/System+foul+sees+sewage+dumped+into+Ottawa+River/1852468/story.html