Problems at a Bridgewater wastewater pump station means wastewater is now pouring into the Lahave.
The town was notified early Thursday that the main discharge pipe at Pump Station 4 had failed.
The station is located just south of the intersection of King and Dufferin streets.
Staff investigated immediately but found repairs to the aging pipe could not be made in house.
Contractors Black and McDonald were brought in but work likely won’t be completed until the middle of next week.
Richard MacLellan, CAO for the town, says unfortunately there isn’t a way to stop the wastewater from flowing.
“That’s going to happen for a couple days here but we’re going to fix that but luckily it’s not during the summer when there’s more public contact with the river.”
Water from the western half of the town goes to that pump station, accounting for about half of the town’s wastewater.
MacLellan says the wastewater should dissipate quickly once repairs are complete.
MacLellan says the pipe’s age contributed to its failure.
He says the town has put money into their aging pipes but that it’s an infrastructure issue that many older communities are dealing with.
“The federal and provincial governments have stepped in to help close that gap in recent years and closing that infrastructure defect will take some time.”
Repairs are expected to cost between $20,000 to $25,000.
