The RM of Portage la Prairie Council's given first reading to an amendment to the Utility By-law because of an issue with the Oakville lagoon.

Reeve Kam Blight says some residents with sump pumps are connecting them to the sewer system, and it's causing a problem.

"It is causing us to exceed the capacity of the lagoon. This has happened in the past, and we need to something to help address that. One part of the problem is because people are discharging their sump pumps right into the wastewater system. We need to address that -- that is illegal, you're not supposed to be doing it that way, so we will be implementing a $500 fee for those that are caught doing that."

Blight points out the fee won't be in effect until summer, because the amendment hasn't received second and third reading.

"We want to make that everyone's given advance notice that this is going to be happening, and that you can take some steps to rectify the situation, and no longer discharge into the waste water (system). This is not just for the community of Oakville, this is the Peony Farm as well, and so that should help take some pressure off that system also."

Blight stresses they'll ensure people are notified.

"The media's a great resource for us that we like to use. We also have our website, our apps, and everyone gets their water bills. We can't control what people read, but Council will make a decision going forward. We have to wait for giving it second and third reading, so we'll discuss some distribution methods, but ideally, I think administration will take care of that for us."