The City of Winnipeg will stop treating wastewater with ultraviolet light, which neutralizes bacteria and viruses, at its northern plant for at least five months.

UV treatment at the pollution control centre in north Winnipeg will cease on Oct. 1 and is not expected to resume until March.

“This is a temporary measure to allow us to keep working on important upgrades to the plant,” the city said in a news release Wednesday.

The wastewater will be treated as usual except for the UV step.

“This means that the treated wastewater we release into the Red River will have more bacteria and viruses than normal. Higher levels of bacteria and viruses can be harmful to people and pets, but not to fish,” the release said.

The work will not affect anyone’s drinking water, the City of Winnipeg said.

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