The largest sewage spill in at least a decade spilled 135 million liters into the Red River in Winnipeg.

One of the largest discharges of raw sewage into the Winnipeg River in recent years shows no signs of stopping.

Since February 7, more than 135 million liters of untreated sewage has been released into the Red River from the waterfall and river crossing at 3100 Abinojii Mikanah (formerly Bishop Grandin Blvd.).

In November, City of Winnipeg crews discovered problems with two sewer lines that cross the river near the Fort Harry Bridge, causing one to be shut down.

On February 5, work on the detour began, leading to the closure of the southern bridge. But two days later, a second pipe broke, releasing raw sewage that has continued ever since.

“Due to this second failure, construction of a bypass system across the bridge has been expedited,” Department of Water and Wastewater Department spokeswoman Lisa Markardson wrote in an email Tuesday.

“We expect to have the detour up and running in the next few days, at which point the sewage should stop flowing and all lanes of traffic should be re-opened.”

Installed in the 1970s, the pipes drain water directly from the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant.

According to the city's online records, the volume of sewage from this latest spill exceeds any other in at least the last 10 years.

The combined sewer at 499 Tilehurst Street released 74.5 million liters of sewage into the Assiniboine River over nine days in March 2022.

In the same year, 59.6 million liters of water were poured into the Kyzyl River from three points after the southern end plant exceeded its capacity.

The largest spill on the city's records was in September 2002, when a mechanical failure at the North End Water Pollution Control Center caused 427 million liters of untreated sewage to spill into the Red River over 57 hours, Markardson said.

Mayor Scott Gillingham says the incidents show why the city needs to spend millions of dollars to upgrade its sewer infrastructure.

“It shows the reality of the city of Winnipeg – we're celebrating 150 years as a city, we have a lot of old infrastructure,” he said at a news conference Tuesday.

“I'm not saying our sewer lines are 150 years old, but some of our water and sewer lines and infrastructure are very old.

The cost of living movement cannot be supported

A proposal to require a minimum living wage for all city workers was defeated.

Motion from Conn. Cindy Gilroy called on the city to study the basis of Canada's minimum living wage and report back to council in September.

One estimate from the Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives puts the living wage in Winnipeg at $19.21 an hour.

The president of the city's largest union told the executive policy committee that the costs would be minimal, noting that most city employees and contractors already make a living wage.

“But it puts us on the map as an employer that values ​​workers. It gives us an opportunity to lead by example,” Gord Delbridge, president of CUPE Local 500, told the executive policy committee Tuesday.

The committee voted to take no action on the living wage proposal, except that Con. Sherry Rollins supports the original proposal.

Gillingham said the idea would cost the city a lot because higher-paid workers would demand raises later. He also argued that the living wage calculation used by the union does not take into account benefits received by city workers and that wages should be determined through a collective bargaining agreement.

The hearing of Vulcan Iron Works' appeal was adjourned

Debris clearance at the former Vulcan Iron Works building in Point Douglas has been delayed again.

Property owner Sheldon Blank appealed the city order to clean it up.

He told the property and development committee that he is fighting a provincial order requiring demolition of the damp because of potential asbestos contamination.

“We're trying to find a way that the cost of demolition doesn't exceed the value of the property,” Blank said at a committee meeting Monday.

Blank has asked the committee to delay hearing his appeal while he negotiates with the province.

The court session was postponed to April 22.