[Excerpts from Aug. 20th Manitoba Govt. News Release]
The province of Manitoba has received the final report on the Clean Environment Commission’s (CEC’s) review of the City of Winnipeg’s waste water systems, Conservation Minister Steve Ashton has announced.

"This report represents a very valuable tool in our overall strategy to improve water throughout the province and Lake Winnipeg in particular," said Ashton. "The recommendations in this report build on our ongoing work to control nutrients and waste that come from a variety of sources as well as working with our neighbours south of the border." Recommendations in the report include:

- instituting a public notification system for future sewage overflows that impact the Red River;
- accelerating actions to reduce the flow of nutrients to Lake Winnipeg;
- issuing interim licences for waste water treatment plants in Winnipeg with ongoing reviews; and
- establishing effluent limits for treatment plants in accordance with Manitoba’s Water Quality Standards, Objectives and Guidelines.

"In principle, we accept the CEC’s recommendations and will continue to work with the City of Winnipeg to help improve the reliability of their waste water treatment systems and their effectiveness in protecting water quality in the Red River and Lake Winnipeg," said Energy, Science and Technology Minister Tim Sale, speaking today on behalf of Ashton. "Plans to upgrade these systems will also continue to be discussed with the City of Winnipeg to ensure timely implementation." The City of Winnipeg is expected to develop an implementation plan within the coming weeks.

Full Release
Recommendations
Executive Summary
Full Report

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