Niagara Falls Water Board nailed for second black water discharge
by The Associated Press
New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation called the incident "wholly unacceptable" and said the water board must take immediate corrective action
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y.—Officials in upstate New York say excess sewer water again made its way into the Niagara River after a high-profile discharge of black-colored water last summer.
The Niagara Falls Water Board says it reported to the state Department of Environmental Conservation that excess sewage was discharged on Wednesday. Buffalo, N.Y.-based news station WGRZ-TV reports state officials said in a statement that the discolored water is “wholly unacceptable.”
Officials say the water board must immediately make corrections. The DEC’s maximum penalty for water quality violations are $37,500 per day.
The water board says it has no way of controlling the colour of overflow discharge during a wet weather event.
In late July, a discharge of foul-smelling water from the board’s wastewater treatment plant turned the water near the base of Niagara Falls turned an alarming shade of black.
