The old town of Lunenburg in eastern Canada is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a top tourist site but right now its harbour smells very bad. The water is contaminated by fecal bacteria that frequently exceeds federal government limits and can pose a risk to the health of boaters and anyone who dares swim in it.
Smells like dirty diapers
Residents complain of a dirty diaper smell and say they often have to close their windows. Some of them blame the 15-year-old sewage treatment plant and sewers that overflow in heavy rain. Coastal Action, a local environmental group, says contamination could also have to do with boating traffic and contaminated sediment on the harbour floor.
The municipality is spending $1.1 million on a bio-filter at the sewage treatment plant to reduce the smell and is doing an engineering study of the plant. Results will be published in the coming months. Town council issued a statement saying it “is actively working to improve the water quality of our harbour.”
With files from CBC and Canadian Press.
For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.