Dust Explosion Damages Canadian Wastewater Plant

Dust from dried sewage sludge exploded Wednesday at a wastewater treatment plant in Hamilton, Ontario, causing extensive damage.

Two workers safely evacuated the plant after the blast.

The explosion happened shortly after 6 p.m. in the biosolids management system at the Woodward Wastewater Treatment Plant, local media report. After human waste is treated, it become a semi-solid slurry referred to as sewage sludge.

“When it gets unloaded into a hopper, it dries and gets overheated, and the dust builds up friction and can explode,” Hamilton deputy fire chief Jon Barry told the Hamilton Spectator.

Damage from the blast was estimated at $75,000 (CAD) or about $57,440 (USD).

Ontario’s Technical Standards and Safety Authority is investigating.