Close X
Monday, October 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

50 tonnes of 'fatbergs' removed from Richmond sewers, Metro Vancouver says

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 25 Oct, 2024 12:58 PM
  • 50 tonnes of 'fatbergs' removed from Richmond sewers, Metro Vancouver says

Workers in Metro Vancouver have chiselled away about 50 tonnes of so-called "fatbergs" that have clogged the sewer system and prompted a reminder to residents not to dump grease down the drain. 

Dana Zheng, a program manager with the Metro Vancouver regional district, says that while it isn't the first time they've encountered the problem in the system, this latest discovery of hardened fat is the "most serious" they have seen in recent years. 

Zheng says workers at the Lulu Island wastewater treatment plant in Richmond have been running into the giant mounds of fat since the summer, gradually extracting more than 50 tonnes in total, and costing about $1 million so far. 

A photo issued by the regional district shows some of the hardened chunks of yellowish and brown fat are large enough to reach a worker's thighs. 

Zheng says Richmond has been one of the hot spots for fat deposits because of the city's flat terrain, giving grease more time to settle and harden inside the pipes. 

The regional district is urging residents to dispose of fats properly by placing them in green bins for composing, rather than pouring them down the drain.

The district's website says Metro Vancouver municipalities spend about $2.7 million every year to repair damage caused by fats, oils and grease in the sewer systems.

MORE National ARTICLES

Parliamentary committee to probe how Toronto terror suspect was admitted to Canada

Parliamentary committee to probe how Toronto terror suspect was admitted to Canada
A House of Commons committee will investigate how a man who is now facing terror charges was admitted to Canada and obtained citizenship. Members of Parliament on the public safety and national security committee voted unanimously on Tuesday to launch a study on the terror suspects arrested in the Toronto area last month. 

Parliamentary committee to probe how Toronto terror suspect was admitted to Canada

Canada's foreign worker program 'breeding ground' for modern slavery: report

Canada's foreign worker program 'breeding ground' for modern slavery: report
A recently released international report says Canada's temporary foreign worker program is a "breeding ground" for contemporary slavery. The final report by a United Nations special rapporteur who visited Canada last year says a power imbalance prevents workers from exercising their rights.

Canada's foreign worker program 'breeding ground' for modern slavery: report

Surrey Mayor to review penalties for fire ban violations

Surrey Mayor to review penalties for fire ban violations
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has directed staff to conduct a review of financial penalties for violating fire bans in an effort to potentially increase the fines. It comes after the city says its fire department has responded to more than 400 brush and grass fires since May 1st, most of which were caused by human activity.

Surrey Mayor to review penalties for fire ban violations

19 year old charged in extortion crimes

19 year old charged in extortion crimes
Police in Metro Vancouver say a 19-year-old man has been charged with almost two dozen offences related to the alleged online sexual extortion of teenagers. Burnaby R-C-M-P say the investigation began after victims in Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario reported to local police that they were being extorted for money after sharing explicit images with someone they met on social media platforms.

19 year old charged in extortion crimes

Canadians should be prepared for more wildfires and hurricanes: Environment Canada

Canadians should be prepared for more wildfires and hurricanes: Environment Canada
Human-caused climate change is making heat waves much more likely, the federal government says, bringing extreme weather from fires to storms. That's according to Environment and Climate Change Canada's rapid extreme weather event attribution system, which compares today's climate to a pre-industrial one.

Canadians should be prepared for more wildfires and hurricanes: Environment Canada

B.C. fruit group files for creditor protection after crop losses, 'liquidity crisis'

B.C. fruit group files for creditor protection after crop losses, 'liquidity crisis'
A statement from the BC Tree Fruits Cooperative issued Monday says the decision to file for creditor protection stems from the group's "liquidity crisis," with stone fruit crops damaged by weather identified as "the final tipping point" in a series of factors.

B.C. fruit group files for creditor protection after crop losses, 'liquidity crisis'