Tsuu T'ina Nation is taking responsibility for pumping raw sewage — and lots of it — from the bedroom community of Redwood Meadows onto the forest floor on reserve land for more than a week.

Opposition politicians in Alberta want the province and federal government to step in and clean up the mess.

Tsuu T'ina band administrator Kevin Littlelight says they are doing the best they can to address the "alarming amount" of sewage.

"We're not interested in the blame game," he said. "We're interested in taking responsibility for cleaning up the portions that are on our land and we're going to do that."

Littlelight says he doesn't think the raw sewage 500 meters away from the Elbow River poses a health risk.

"I'd just like to ensure the general public that we are doing the best we can to rectify the situation. We don't see an immediate health risk to anybody. I have full confidence in the City of Calgary for their treatment plants."

Regulation questions

Calls are growing for the provincial and federal governments to work together to ensure raw sewage is dealt with safely.

For the past three weeks raw, untreated sewage has been pumped into a forest near the Elbow River, and there are fears it could seep into the river.

Liberal MLA Kent Hehr says all Calgarians should be concerned about raw sewage going into the Elbow River. (CBC)

Normally, Redwood Meadows' sewage is pumped to a lagoon on Tsuu T'ina land, but the main pipe is blocked.

Liberal MLA Kent Hehr says someone needs to start taking responsibility for the sewage.

"This situation is clearly not good, clearly not in the best interest of our drinking water," says Hehr.

The province controls municipal waste management but the federal government regulates sewage treatment on First Nations land.

“Something needs to ensure this never happens again. Our provincial governments and our federal governments need to get their proverbial poop together and let's figure this out. It shouldn't be that hard," says Hehr.

Sewage diverted from blocked pipe

Redwood Meadow's town manager told CBC News that the Tsuu T'ina Nation diverted the flow to reserve land until the pipe is fixed.

Gloria Wilkinson, former director with the Elbow River Watershed Partnership, helped write the water management plan for the Elbow River. She says there needs to be clear lines of responsibility for the sewage.

Chestermere-Rocky View MLA Bruce McAllister wants to see the province step in and help. (CBC)

“I know that whole area, including Bragg Creek and Redwood Meadows, are all in the alluvial aquifer of the river, so whatever gets done there has to be done with great care."

Wildrose Chestermere-Rocky View MLA Bruce McAllister says the situation is very serious.

The MLA for the area said he will work with the community to try to clean up the mess.