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Mayor Miro Weinberger Statement Regarding Wet Weather Discharge Event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 11, 2018
Contact: Jordan Redell

                 802.881.7020

 

Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger released the following statement in response to a wet weather discharge event that occurred late last night:
 

“During last night’s storm, a hardware failure at Burlington’s wastewater treatment facility caused a large, unplanned release of treated, but non-disinfected, wet weather discharge into Lake Champlain. These unintended, avoidable releases are completely unacceptable to to Burlingtonians, to Vermonters, and to me. The City’s Department of Public Works (DPW) has a core responsibility to properly treat our sewage and stormwater and fully protect the lake.

 

“In response to this discharge, I have directed DPW Director Chapin Spencer, who appreciates and fully understands the importance of resolving this issue, to: 1) immediately devote every available resource, including outside experts, to fully investigate the causes of the recent mechanical discharges and to immediately implement fixes to prevent them from happening again; and 2) complete by December 1, 2018 the capital upgrade planning for the wastewater plants currently underway to give the City Council and the voters the opportunity to consider investing in needed improvements on Town Meeting Day 2019.”

 

*To read the Mayor’s recent statement regarding the City’s ongoing work to protect our lake, please visit our Mayor’s Office website.

 

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Press Release Date: 
07/11/2018
City Department: 
Mayor's Office