Final Update – Emergency Wastewater Response Concluded – December 19, 2025
Good news this morning: the City of Fernie has confirmed that the emergency wastewater situation has been resolved, and the emergency response has concluded.
All emergency discharge points have now been closed, and the Colclough Lift Station is once again functioning effectively. System flows have stabilized, and critical infrastructure is operating as intended.
City staff and contractors worked around the clock throughout this extreme weather event to protect homes, businesses, and essential services.
As with last week’s incident, the City will now move into the required post-event reporting and follow-up actions.
The City thanks residents and businesses for their cooperation—particularly those who reduced water use during the emergency.
Wastewater System Stabilizing with Ongoing Monitoring – December 18, 2025
Conditions continued to improve overnight, with City crews working through the night to stabilize the wastewater system. While flows remain elevated, they are trending downward, and emergency measures remain in place as monitoring continues this morning.
The emergency bypass at the Main Sewage Lift Station (MSLS) remains open, with minimal volumes of untreated effluent continuing to be discharged into the Elk River. The City anticipates closing the bypass later today and will closely monitor system performance to ensure the lift station can safely manage flows once it is shut down.
The mobile trash pump that had been operating as a supplementary pump at the MSLS is no longer discharging to the river.
As part of this ongoing weather-driven event, the City has also been experiencing issues at the Colclough Lift Station, which is currently unable to keep up with incoming flows. Crews are investigating the cause, and vac trucks are being used to manage excess volumes.
Important note: All sewage transported by vac trucks is discharged back into the City’s sewer system. No sewage from vac trucks is being discharged into the river.
The City continues to coordinate response actions and reporting with partner agencies and regulatory authorities. Further updates will be provided as conditions change.
Emergency Update – Wastewater System Under Pressure Again – December 17, 2025
A new weather system has brought heavy rainfall, once again pushing the City of Fernie’s wastewater system close to critical capacity.
As flows continue to rise rapidly, the system is under significant strain. The City has re-opened an emergency discharge point at the main sewage lift station to protect critical infrastructure and prevent wastewater backups into homes and businesses.
Vac trucks are supporting operations, and operators have been working through the night to manage elevated flows and stabilize the system.
Residents and businesses are again asked to immediately conserve water, including limiting laundry, dishwashing, showers, and all non-essential water use. Reducing demand is critical to relieving pressure on the system during this event.
Further updates will be provided as conditions change.
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.
