Cambridge data centre spill not linked to later pond bloom
Nov 11, 2026 · Summarized by Fundy Tech from CBC
A Cambridge data centre owner says a 5,000-litre glycol spill was not the cause of a later milky pond substance. A local MPP is calling for the testing results to be released.
Key points
- Related Digital says a 5,000 litre glycol spill happened July 2.
- The company says the later pond bloom was coincidental and unrelated.
- Waterloo MPP Catherine Fife wants the ministry to release testing results.
The full story
Related Digital, which co-owns the data centre on Vondrau Drive in Cambridge with Ascent, said a 5,000 litre glycol spill happened on July 2. The company says the spill was reported to the province's Spill Action Centre and the Region of Waterloo's spills reporting hotline. It said the glycol was 75 per cent water and 25 per cent propylene glycol, and that the spill was quickly contained and resolved.
The company says licensed qualified persons, under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, determined that the algae bloom in the pond was coincidental and unrelated to the spill. The ministry later confirmed the company also reported a discharge of cooling water on July 3 from an onsite cooling system, mostly contained to the roof. The ministry said glycol was not found in samples taken from the pond on July 20.
The ministry said there was no indication glycol entered the pond and that it has not established a link between the two incidents. Related Digital said the bloom was caused by stagnant water, high temperatures and the breakdown of naturally occurring organic matter. The ministry also said late-July test results showed no evidence of contaminants of concern.
Waterloo NDP MPP Catherine Fife said it was unacceptable that the public is only learning about this three months later. She said the news came out through Freedom of Information requests filed by residents and called for the ministry to release the testing results and provide a full picture of what happened, the effects and the actions taken.
Why it matters
This is a local environmental issue for Cambridge residents and nearby waterways. It raises questions about disclosure, oversight and how quickly the public learns about industrial incidents. Households and businesses nearby may want clearer answers about water safety and accountability.
Who’s affected: Cambridge residents and the nearby stormwater pond
What’s next
Fife is calling on the Ministry of Environment to release the testing results. The ministry has not established a link between the spill and the pond incident.
What to do
- Follow local environmental updates.
- Ask for the released testing results.
- Report water quality concerns to local authorities.
Original reporting
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