Oil spill in Montreal: Police search for source of pollution

The City of Montreal has asked Montreal police (SPVM) to look into how 1,000 litres of motor oil ended up in the sewage system.

On July 11 and 25, a toxic mixture of 19,000 litres of oil and water was discovered on the banks of the Saint Lawrence River near the Rivière-des-Prairies-Pointe-aux-Trembles neighbourhood on the east end of the island.

"Information gathered to date indicates that both incidents are linked to a single motor oil spill in the storm sewer system," city officials note.

Initial analysis has shown that the spill took place between June 27 and July 10 in the storm drain on du Tricentenaire Boulevard.

"Every effort is being made to find the source of contamination," said Rivière-des-Prairies-Pointe-aux-Trembles Mayor Caroline Bourgeois. "This act, which we consider to be serious and harmful to the environment, must not go without consequences."

Officials from both the city and the borough say they are working hard with the Coast Guard, the Department of Public Health (DRSP), and Urgence-Environnement (U-E) to make sure that residents in the area are not affected.

"The river is our jewel, and we want to make sure that, accidental or not, this kind of spill never happens again," said Marie-Andrée Mauger, City of Montreal executive committee member responsible for the environment and ecological transition.

The city notes that more than 160 inspections have taken place at commercial and industrial sites to detect any signs of spillage or leak.

"Now, they're trying to find other ways to be creative to find where the culprit comes from," said André Bélanger, the general manager of Fondation Rivières. "The problem with this is it comes right after a complaint from the [Quebec] Ministry of Environment and it's really awkward to see the Ministry of Environment blame the City of Montreal for the origin of the spill when nobody knows where the origin of the spill is from."

Bylaw 2008-47 states that it is forbidden to release the following contaminants into a wastewater treatment facility:

• Liquids containing explosive or flammable materials, such as gasoline, fuel oil, naphtha and acetone;
• Persistent non-biological pesticides;
• Ash, sand, earth, straw, sludge, metal residue, glue, glass, pigments, dishcloths, towels, animal waste, wool, fur and wood residue;
• Dyes, stains or liquids that cannot be treated by municipal facilities;
• Liquids with components related to hazardous materials;
• Liquids or substances with an acid or alkaline reaction that could damage a wastewater treatment facility;
• Pathogenic micro-organisms or pharmaceutical substances;
• Radioactive substances;
• Sludge and liquid from septic tanks or chemical toilet systems;
• Substances containing dioxins.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Montreal police.