Update Regarding Offshore Incident at Thornbury Wastewater Treatment Plant Outfall Installation Site
The Town of The Blue Mountains would like to provide the public with an update on the offshore incident that occurred on September 23, 2026, at the Thornbury Wastewater Treatment Plant outfall installation site.
As of Saturday, September 26, both excavators were retrieved from the water. The first was recovered at approximately 12:00 p.m. on Friday, September 25, and the second was recovered at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, September 26. All applicable agencies were notified of the incident, and the contractor completed the recovery while following all required directions. There were no spills of fuel, oil or other contaminants during recovery efforts. Environmental protection measures, including spill kits and associated containment measures, remain in place as a precaution.
Clearway Construction, the Town’s primary contractor on the project, has advised that it remains committed to completing the outfall work during the 2026 construction season. The project team is collaborating to identify work that must be completed before October 14 to avoid impacts on fish-spawning areas, and work that may be undertaken after the permit period, subject to regulatory approval, without adverse effects on those areas.
The Town’s contractor is required by the terms of the contract to deliver the outfall as per design for the tendered amount, barring any contract change orders. There is no additional budget that needs to be approved by the Town for the recovery of the excavators or for any work completed beyond the original scheduled date.
The Town, its engineering consultant and the contractor will continue to meet on a regular basis to track progress and resolve issues as they arise. Public updates will continue to be posted to the Town’s dedicated project page as they are available.
