About 901,000 litres of municipal wastewater spilled into the Kootenay River from a City of Nelson wastewater force main in April.
According to a Ministry of Environment and Parks Dangerous Goods Incident Report published on B.C.’s Natural Resource Compliance and Enforcement Database on July 9, the spill occurred shortly after midnight on April 1 near the Grohman Narrows Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The report was attached to a non-compliance advisory issued to the city.
It estimated 901 cubic metres of wastewater were released from a leak in an aquatic force main, which carries sewage from the city to the treatment plant. The cause of the leak was unknown at the time.
The report notes there is a history of leaks in the area. Divers were sent to investigate while downstream water sampling began as part of the emergency response.
The city was later issued a non-compliance advisory following a ministry inspection into whether it met spill reporting requirements. The ministry found the city did not immediately report the spill to the Provincial Emergency Program as required under B.C.’s Spill Reporting Regulation.
The report said the spill occurred at 12:02 a.m. but was not reported until 9:43 a.m. that morning.
The city also failed to submit its End of Spill Report within the required 30-day timeline. The ministry determined the emergency response was complete on April 2, making the report due by May 2. However, the city did not submit it until May 14.
The advisory directs the city to immediately report future spills and submit End of Spill Reports within the timelines set out in the Spill Reporting Regulation. It also notes the city received a similar advisory in 2024 for submitting a spill report after the required deadline.
The city confirmed to Vista Radio the final spill volume was 901 cubic metres, consistent with the initial estimate in the incident report.
The city said the leak was caused by corrosion in the force main, similar to a leak reported in the fall of 2025.
“This event reinforces the need to replace this aging piece of infrastructure, which remains a priority for the City,” the city said.
The city also said water sampling was conducted at multiple locations downstream during the repair work and no environmental impacts or concerns were identified.
“The City’s emergency response protocols ensured the leak was addressed quickly,” the city said.
Asked why the spill was not publicly communicated at the time, the city said it notified the province immediately and completed the required environmental monitoring and repairs within 24 hours.
“Given the rapid response, the absence of any identified environmental impacts, and no risk to public health, the City did not issue a release at the time,” it said. “We recognize there is strong public interest in incidents involving critical infrastructure, and we ensure events that could impact the public are communicated.”
Responding to the ministry’s findings, the city said the advisory relates to administrative reporting requirements rather than its response to the spill itself.
“While the Province was notified immediately, a follow-up report due on May 1 was submitted on May 14, resulting in the non-compliance notice,” the city said.
“We take our reporting obligations seriously and have reviewed our internal processes to help ensure required documentation is submitted within the prescribed timelines.”
The spill comes as the City of Nelson continues plans to replace its aging force main. The city launched a replacement plan in 2023 after identifying several leaks in recent years and has applied for provincial funding toward the estimated $11.6-million project.
“The City has applied to the Province of B.C.’s 2025 Strategic Priorities Fund for $7 million toward the cost of replacing the force main, and design and engineering work have already begun,” the city said.
Want to get your business noticed? Have you considered advertising through your local radio station? Speak to one of our sales agents and find out how radio advertising can boost your business today. Call 250-352-1902 or email Vista Radio.
