Torbear Contracting Inc., Woodbridge, had a contract to
complete upgrades at a sewage treatment plant. The project required
that the outdoor containment area surrounding the chemical storage
tanks of sodium hypochlorite be expanded and a drain be installed
to allow for easy removal of rainwater. The containment area was
designed to trap any sodium hypochlorite which may escape the tanks
or piping. On September 11, 2009, during construction activities, a
pipe was broken accidentally
and approximately 3,446 litres of sodium hypochlorite spilled
from the containment area and entered the Don River through the
treatment plant's effluent channel. No effort was made by the
company to stop the chemical from leaving the containment area.
Shortly after the spill, it was discovered that a large number of
fish were found dead or dying in the Don River downstream of the
area.
