A power generating station in Lennox and Addington County has been fined following a discharge of wastewater into the environment.
The Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks has laid the $25,000 fine, after 476,000 litres of wastewater was discharged at the Napanee Generating Station on Loyalist Parkway, along Lake Ontario.
Water circulation is used in the plant to remove waste heat from the generator condenser, and it then goes out into the atmosphere via cooling towers.
To reduce contaminant buildup, the water is mixed with chlorine, but before being released, the chlorine water is typically treated and then released.
Here are details from the ministry below
- A subsequent investigation determined that the TRC exceedance occurred because a tote of sodium bisulfite (SBS) had been allowed to run to a low but not empty level. SBS is a chemical added to blowdown water to neutralize chlorine before discharging it to the natural environment. The low level of SBS caused a suction issue and stopped the flow of SBS to the blowdown water.
- As a result of the incident, an estimated 476,000 litres of wastewater effluent was discharged into the environment. There was no evidence that the exceedance caused harm to aquatic life.
- Portlands voluntarily cooperated with the ministry throughout the investigation. Following the incident, Portlands implemented enhanced technology and prevention techniques at the facility on its own accord and expense as preventative measures.
- The ministry’s Environmental Investigations and Enforcement Branch investigated and laid charges which resulted in one conviction.
