2 million litres of diluted sewage flowed into Assiniboine River as firefighters fought stubborn blaze

Crews battling a house fire last week may have inadvertentlycaused nearly two-million litres of diluted sewage to pour into the Assiniboine River.

The City of Winnipeg confirms 1.8 megalitresof the diluted sewage more than two-thirds the volume of an Olympic swimming poolflowed into the river on Feb. 5 near Ferry Road. The surge lasted at least three hours from the time an overflow alarm went off at about 7:45 p.m.

The water firefighters used todousea nearby blaze on Roseberry Street south of Ellice Avenue likely caused the leak, the city said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The city says it reported the wastewater dischargeto Manitoba Sustainable Development the day of the incident.

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