Cochrane Stops Substantial Sewage Leak, Implements Water-Saving Measures Locally

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The municipality of Cochrane has halted a substantial sewage leak that had been saturating the Bow River since the previous weekend. The leakage was discovered as contractors worked on a city job and inadvertently damaged the sewage and treated water lines, according to officials.

The effluent, which made its way into the river, is reported to be from broken sewer and water lines, resulting in a blend of sewage and treated water escaping into the waterway. As stated by the municipal Chief Administrative Officer, Mike Derricott, the precise quantity of sewage that flowed into the river is yet to be determined. However, he speculates that it was a substantial amount.


The water supply of Cochrane has been impacted, leading to the rollout of water restrictions. Despite this, officials reassure that the town’s drinking water remains unaffected. The situation has also rippled down to Calgary and Rocky View County, both located downstream of the breach. However, their water supply remains uncompromised, albeit with heightened water quality monitoring.

Mark Crowdis of the City of Calgary further elaborated, “The water treatment plants are intricately designed to disinfect and treat such contamination. Thankfully, we did not notice contaminants entering our intake systems due to the river’s natural dilution effects, thus our city’s drinking water supply is still safe.”

Several establishments in Cochrane, including hotels and a car dealership located near the site of the leak, are experiencing limitations on their water supply. The locals have been urged to adopt water-saving methods. Furthermore, the parklands and pathways near the river work site have been temporarily closed for safety and welfare reasons.

The town finds its water reservoir levels to be critically low due to the leak. In response to this, a large-scale water hauling operation is underway to replenish and stabilize water reservoirs, as shared by Shawn Polley, the town’s Deputy Director of Emergency Management.

The timeline for remediation efforts around the leak site remains uncertain. However, city officials warn that water restrictions may remain in place for the forthcoming days.

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Melinda Cochrane is a poet, teacher and fiction author. She is also the editor and publisher of The Inspired Heart, a collection of international writers. Melinda also runs a publishing company, Melinda Cochrane International books for aspiring writers, based out Montreal, Quebec. Her publication credits include: The art of poetic inquiry, (Backalong Books), a novella, Desperate Freedom, (Brian Wrixon Books Canada), and 2 collections of poetry; The Man Who Stole Father’s Boat, (Backalong Books), and She’s an Island Poet, Desperate Freedom was on the bestseller's list for one week, and The Man Who Stole Father’s Boat is one of hope and encouragement for all those living in the social welfare system. She’s been published in online magazines such as, (regular writer for) ‘Life as a Human’, and Shannon Grissom’s magazine.