The days between March 28 and April 9 are a time the Ontario city of Orillia staff would rather forget.In that short span during 2025, the Orillia Wastewater Treatment Centre endured heavy downpours, flash floods, an ice storm and a methane fire caused by a lightning strike.Despite all these mishaps, Orillia, 148 kilometers (91 miles) north of Toronto, managed to keep its wastewater treatment system operating and its drinking water safe.Series of eventsThe term “perfect storm” definitely applies to what Orillia experienced. “Our wastewater facility is a conventional activated sludge treatment plant,” says Fern Fournier, manager of wastewater and pumping
