More bacteria, viruses expected in Red River, city warns

The Red River is seen near the University of Manitoba on Sept. 3, 2025. (Glenn Pismenny/CTV News Winnipeg)

Wastewater released into the Red River will temporarily have more bacteria and viruses than normal amid a temporary shut off of UV treatment at a wastewater plant.

The city said in a news release it will shut off the treatment at the North End Wastewater Treatment Plant on Oct. 1 as a temporary measure to keep working on upgrades to the facility.

They will otherwise treat wastewater as usual, the city said, but without UV lights to neutralize bacteria and viruses.

“This means that the treated wastewater we release into the Red River will have more bacteria and viruses than normal,” the city said.

“Higher levels of bacteria and viruses can be harmful to people and pets, but not to fish.”

This work will not affect drinking water, the city said.

Anyone living near or who uses the river for recreation should avoid direct contact with river water, wash hands with soap after any direct contact, use safe food handling practices when eating fish from the river, and keep your pets from encountering river water or drinking it.

The city will also contact residents living within three kilometres downstream of the plant.

UV treatment is expected to continue in March.

Shut-off part of billion-dollar plan to upgrade plant

Upgrading the North End plant is provincially mandated and is the city’s most expensive project to date.

It’s being done in three phases. The first adds a power supply and headworks facility, which is scheduled to be finished in 2026.

Council has been asked to approve a nine per cent budget hike for this phase, bringing its price tag to $565.3 million.

The upgrades are aimed at protecting Lake Winnipeg and ensuring the city has enough sewage capacity, which could run out in the coming years.

- With files from CTV‘s Jeff Keele