Winnipeg says sewage bypass should never have opened automatically

Two bypass gates at Winnipeg's North End sewage treatment plant opened unexpectedly early Monday, sending about 9.8 million litres of partially treated sewage into the Red River over roughly two and a half hours. Water and waste director Tim Shanks said the gates were meant to be opened manually but had been set to automatic, and no alarm alerted staff. The city is investigating why, and the gates are now locked. Officials do not expect long-term effects on river water quality and will keep testing. The province is investigating whether enforcement is needed as the plant undergoes a $3.2-billion upgrade.