The City of
London was fined $20,000, plus the 25% victim fine surcharge,
for breaching its Ministry of the Environment approval for a
wastewater treatment plant, contrary to the Ontario Water Resources Act.
The City of London owns and operates the Greenway Pollution
Control Centre. The facility treats municipal wastewater prior to
discharging into the Thames River and operates under a ministry
approval. Aluminum sulphate spilled in the plant due to failure to
keep all necessary valves closed, as required by that approval.
The wastewater plant spill happened when an aluminum sulphate
storage tank was empty and out of service due to a broken
draw-line. The valve leading to this tank from two other storage
tanks was opened, allowing aluminum sulphate to flow into the tank
and out via the broken draw-line. Although the tank had a secondary
containment structure, its drain had been left open to allow for
the drainage of water and/or snow melt. As a result,
