Hot and smelly in Vancouver as sewage leak stinks up Olympic Village

Traffic impacts in Vancouver blamed on sewage leak in Olympic Village

Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock

As Vancouver is set to hit above-average temperatures Thursday, one neighbourhood is starting the day with an unfortunate and persistent odour emitting from a high volume of water.

Reports of a leak in Olympic Village began around 5:30 am, according to Lorn Carter, Director of Waste Water Collections and Drainage at Metro Vancouver, and his crews were notified at 8 am by the City to respond to the area.

Metro Vancouver’s Lorn Carter speak about the leak on June 20, 2024. (Daniel Chai/Daily Hive)

Photos and videos show that by the time they arrived, a large section of the road had pooled water.

Daniel Chai/Daily Hive

He said the City of Vancouver and Metro Vancouver teams are trying to isolate the pipe from the city infrastructure, and it may take a few hours. A construction team is also being mobilized to assist, and traffic is impacted as a result.

Crews on site for emergency sewer main repair work at 2nd and Columbia in Vancouver. Traffic is currently impacted. We’re assessing the situation and will provide more information through the day. Thank you for your patience as we resolve the issue.

— Metro Vancouver (@MetroVancouver) June 20, 2024

Carter added that no nearby homes or business have had their water shut off and they should not be experiencing any sewage backups but “they may have had surface water come in.”

“But it shouldn’t be effecting people’s sewage services,” he said. “So the residents should not be seeing any difference in their service.”

Former Vancouver Park Board Commissioner turned Conservative Party of BC candidate John Cougar shared on social media that there’s a “sewer line break between 1st ave and 2nd ave on Columbia street.”

He goes on to suggest there “seems to be a large volume of sewage on the street and down the lane.”

Sewer line break between 1st ave and 2nd on Columbia street seems to be a large volume of sewage on the street and down the lane ⁦@CityofVancouver⁩ is here looks like heavy equipment will be needed ASAP ⁦@GlobalBC⁩ ⁦@CTVVancouver⁩ ⁦@CityNewsVAN⁩ pic.twitter.com/nRv9NkBwqb

— John Coupar (@JohnCCoupar) June 20, 2024

Carter also explained that like when it rains, the catch basins on Vancouver streets are “going to pick up whatever liquid is on the street.”

So any sewage from this morning would have fallen into the local catch basins and been dispersed, possibly into False Creek, officials have said.

Daniel Chai/Daily Hive

Emergency Management British Columbia was contacted, which coordinates response with regulators like Environment Canada and the Ministry of Health to ensure there are minimal impacts of this leak on False Creek.

Earlier reports suggest the smell is wafting throughout the area, however, as of 10 am, Daily Hive can confirm the smell is no longer as strong.

You might also like: