SaskatoonThe owner of a business in Saskatoon’s Marquis Industrial area says the toxic gas from a malfunctioning city sewage facility has reduced the value of his building to zero.City official says it will take 2 years to fix problem with disposal stationPhil Tank · CBC News · Posted: Nov 04, 2025 11:50 AM EST | Last Updated: 7 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 5 minutesThe south side of Saskatoon city hall is seen in this aerial photo. (Albert Couillard/CBC)The owner of a business in Saskatoon’s Marquis Industrial area says the toxic gas from a malfunctioning city sewage facility has reduced the value of his building to zero.Derek Hanneson, who owns Hanneson Construction Inc. on Kinnear Avenue, said he has invested his life savings into purchasing the building.Hanneson spoke at Tuesday’s environment, utilities and community services committee meeting about the dump station located at the intersection of Arthur Rose Avenue and Wanuskewin Road.He said the H2S (hydrogen sulfide) gas being released there is potentially harmful in high concentrations.“It becomes catastrophic because our building becomes worthless,” Hanneson told the committee. “Every 10, 15, 20 minutes, H2S gas [that] smells like rotten eggs and beyond, to the point where it’s burning the hair out of your nose, comes into your building and knocks you down on your feet.“I have customers that come that are just overwhelmed.”Russ Munro, the director of Saskatoon water, admitted the dump station, also known as the Marquis waste hauler disposal station, is malfunctioning.An apparatus at the facility is designed to remove the gas that is being released, but the filters are failing.“It is not working as intended,” Munro told the committee. “ We are trying to work with the original designer to rectify the issues.”Munro also acknowledged that the gas is potentially harmful and that the concentration is monitored and an alarm is sounded if the level of 10 parts per million is reached.The “blower” system is only operated at night and outside of business hours to avoid affecting the businesses in the industrial area, he added.But there is no quick or cheap solution to the issue, Munro explained. Shutting down the facility would only allow the H2S gas to be released unfiltered.A budget request for $1.4 million will be considered by council later this month. Even if that spending is approved, design would take place next year with construction in 2027-28, the committee heard.The disposal station was relocated from the Silverwood Heights neighbourhood to minimize the impact on homeowners, according to information on the city’s website.The station was established north of the Silverwood Golf Course, which is located north of Silverwood Heights.City hall seen as menace for birdsBird lovers also spoke at the committee meeting to urge city hall to take action to protect winged creatures.Mercy Harris of Bird Safe Saskatoon told the committee that volunteers found 20 birds between Aug. 24 and Oct. 5 that had collided with the north side of Saskatoon city hall and either died or were injured as a result.Windows on the north side of Saskatoon city hall reflect the trees on the property, a problem for birds in the area. (Phil Tank/CBC)But Harris explained that the number of bird casualties could be much higher because injured birds may have flown away and died later. Also, scavenger species may have removed carcasses.Windows on the north side of city hall, which is only three storeys tall, reflect the trees on the property and birds fly into the reflections, the committee heard. Songbirds, in particular, fly at the level of that wing of city hall.Harris presented a petition with hundreds of signatures urging city hall to take action. She included an estimate of $49,863 to apply bird deterrent film to the windows on the north side of city hall. Council will consider that spending at budget talks this month.David Forbes, president of the Saskatoon Nature Society, called protecting threatened bird species a “critical conservation issue” in Saskatoon, given its place along key bird migratory routes.“I was surprised to learn that our own city hall, especially the north side, is such a bird strike hot spot,” Forbes said.Harris said estimates suggest 16 million to 42 million birds die each year in Canada from birds striking windows.Action against coal extension urgedSaskatoon Climate Justice wants city hall to speak up about the province’s intention to extend the life of coal-fired power plants.Jory Vermette spoke to the committee on behalf of the group to say he appreciates city hall’s efforts to reduce emissions, but added such actions are undermined by the province deciding to extend its dependence on coal to as late as 2050.He said the decision on coal will make it difficult for the city to achieve its emissions reduction targets.“Instead of embracing clean energy, our provincial government has embraced coal,” Vermette said.Vermette urged the committee to write to the provincial government about the coal decision and to seek intervener status if a legal challenge by the Saskatchewan Environmental Society and others is allowed to proceed.
Saskatoon business owner raises stink over sewer gas odour from malfunctioning station
