The rising water levels are causing concern about what could happen to the Millidgeville wastewater treatment facility.
Kendall Mason is the deputy commissioner of Saint John Water and says they’re building a clay berm to try and protect the infrastructure.
“The water is actually at the edge of the asphalt on the outer rim of the facility in some locations,” says Mason. “The berm is being built adjacent to the water.”
Mason says staff will be on site 24/7 throughout the weekend, but if water gets into the facility, they’ll have no choice but to shut it down.
“It could be severe impacts to secondary treatment at the facility,” he says, “long-term shutdown even after flood waters or river waters recede.”
But Mason says they’re optimistic the berm will hold up and keep the water out.
He says 10 lift stations throughout the city have been taken offline due to flooding, which means wastewater is being discharged into the river at those locations.
