Sewage Water Fouls Niagara Falls for Tourists

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A foul-smelling, wastewater discharge that turned the water near the base of Niagara Falls black over the weekend prompted New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to order an investigation. 

According to the Associated Press, Cuomo said he believes the city of Niagara Falls may have violated state water quality standards after a local wastewater treatment plant released the contaminated water into the Niagara River on Saturday. He ordered the Department of Environmental Conservation to conduct an investigation.

In a statement, the city said the release of the water was a "routine, necessary and short term change in the waste water treatment process." 

"The blackish water contained some accumulated solids and carbon residue within permitted limits and did not include any organic type oils or solvents. The unfortunate odor would be limited to the normal sewer water discharge smell," the statement read.

The sludge was captured by aerial photos and photos surrounding the dock of the famed Maid of the Mist tour boat launch. It had dissipated by Sunday morning. 

Pat Proctor, a vice president for Rainbow Air Inc., a helicopter company that flies tourists over the fall, said he noticed the leak from one of the helicopters Saturday afternoon.

"The first thing that came to my mind was, 'Dear God, please don't be an oil leak,'" Proctor told the Associated Press. 

If the city is found guilty of breaking water quality standards, it could face a fine of up to $37,500.

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