The City of Fernie continues to respond to critically high flows in the municipal wastewater system caused by intense rainfall and rapid snowmelt. Crews have been working around the clock to protect infrastructure and prevent backups into homes and businesses.

Below is the full timeline of updates issued by the City.

Final Update: Emergency Wastewater Discharge Ends and System Stabilizes – December 13, 2025

The City of Fernie has confirmed that the final emergency wastewater discharge point was closed this morning, and no further untreated effluent is being released into the Elk River.

With all emergency discharges now halted, the City has begun the required post-incident reporting and follow-up with the Environmental Emergencies Branch of the Ministry of Environment.

Flows within the system remain elevated but continue to trend downward, and overall wastewater operations are returning to normal. City crews will maintain enhanced monitoring of system performance and weather conditions through the weekend to ensure stability and to respond quickly should conditions change.

The City thanks residents and businesses for their patience, cooperation, and water conservation efforts throughout this event. Additional updates will be provided if necessary.

Afternoon Update – December 12, 2025 at 3:30 P.M.
Wastewater Situation Improving

Conditions have continued to improve throughout the day, with flows steadily decreasing across the wastewater system.

• The City is now discharging partially treated effluent from one remaining release point at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

• If improvements continue, the City is hopeful this final discharge can be closed tomorrow morning.

• Required environmental sampling is underway, and once all discharging ceases, the City will begin the formal post-spill reporting process with the Environmental Emergencies Branch of the Ministry of Environment.

Preventing Catastrophic System Failure

The City emphasizes that releasing untreated or partially treated effluent is always a last resort, used only to prevent far worse outcomes.
In this event, controlled discharge prevented:

• Failure of the City’s two major lift stations, which move all wastewater from town to the treatment plant.

• Lagoon berm failure at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

A failure of either component would have resulted in a prolonged inability to treat wastewater and, in past incidents elsewhere in B.C., has even required community evacuation.

City crews will continue to closely monitor system conditions and the incoming weather through the weekend.

The City thanks residents and businesses for their continued efforts to limit water use while the system is restored to full capacity.

Morning Update – December 12, 2025 at 8:30 A.M.
Wastewater System Stabilizing

Conditions have improved overnight. Flows remain roughly twice normal levels, but are down significantly from yesterday’s peak of five times normal.

• Approximately 85% of effluent discharge has been shut down.

• If conditions continue improving, the City expects to fully close all remaining discharge points by late this afternoon.

Dogwood Park Update

• The Dogwood Park discharge point is no longer being used.

• Vac trucks are cleaning and restoring the site this morning.

• Dogwood Park and adjoining trails are expected to reopen by noon today, pending safe conditions.

Water Conservation Still Required

• Residents and businesses are asked to continue limiting all non-essential water use while the system is brought back to full operating capacity.

• Another update will be provided this afternoon.

Update – December 11, 2025 at 3:00 P.M.

The third discharge point at Eckersley Street was closed after proving ineffective. The City reverted to two discharge locations—Dogwood Park and the main pump station—to help stabilize the system.

• Dogwood Park remained fully closed.

Update – December 11, 2025 at 1:30 P.M.

Intense rainfall and rapid snowmelt overwhelmed the City’s wastewater system, pushing flows beyond capacity.

Key points:

Untreated wastewater was discharged into the river at up to three locations to relieve system pressure.

• Vac trucks transported effluent from the Riverside Lift Station to Dogwood Park.

• The City coordinated with provincial agencies, including the Ministry of Environment’s Environmental Emergency Response branch and the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.

• Inflow and infiltration were extremely high, with no immediate relief expected due to warm temperatures and ongoing alpine snowmelt.

• Flooding from the weather system also caused road washouts and localized impacts to some homes.

• A self-fill sandbag station was opened at the City Operations Yard on Railway Avenue.

Initial Emergency Notification – December 11, 2025 at 8:30 A.M.

The City announced the system was over capacity and at risk of failure. Residents and businesses were asked to immediately conserve water to reduce system pressure.

• Wastewater was initially released from two river discharge points to prevent infrastructure damage and backups.

What Residents Can Still Do

• Continue conserving water until the system is fully stabilized.

• Avoid the river and respect all closures and work zones.

• Follow official City channels for updates as they are released.

Read more about Fernie’s Effluent Discharge problem here.