Interior Health keeps 'Do Not Use' water advisory in place for Slocan Valley users
By Bruce Fuhr
Officials at Interior Health have continued ”Do Not Use” water advisory for residents of the Slocan Valley from Lemon Creek south on the Slocan River to the Brilliant Dam on the Kootenay River.
Medical Health Officer Dr. Trevor Corneil told The Nelson Daily Sunday the advisory could remain in affect for the next 48 to 72 hours while officials continue to test waters following the tanker truck accident Friday afternoon spilled 35,000 of Jet Fuel into Lemon Creek.
“At this time IH is strongly advising that all residents and visitors to the Slocan Valley area not use any water from the Slocan River or Kootenay River above Brilliant Dam or below Lemon Creek and do not use, do not drink, do not bathe, do not swim, do not kayak or any other recreational uses,” Dr. Corneil said.
“This is due to some small remaining pockets of jet fuel remaining in eddies in the river”
“Well water is not affected,” he added.
Corneil said this advisory does not include tap water usage in downstream cities of Castlegar and Trail as both use water from alternate sources.
IH is concerned that the fuel involved (Jet Fuel A-1) is a volatile organic compound that in high concentrations (liquid or gas) can cause significant damage to skin, lung tissue, gastrointestinal tissue, and brain tissue.
Corneil said people should also not fish in the Slocan River at this time.
“With regards to people fishing or caught fish in rivers, our advice is do not fish or eat fish at this time,” Dr. Corneil said.
“The Ministry of Environment is doing assessments they’ll be testing the waters to see if any contaminates remain.”
IH is also recommending residents with concerns that fruit/vegetables from local gardens may be contaminated should throw the items out.
More than 3000 residents of the Slocan Valley were affected by the tanker spill into Lemon Creek Friday.
Many spent most of Saturday with friends or at three Emergency social services reception centres at L.V. Rogers High School or Selkirk College Fairview campus in Nelson or W.E. Graham school in Slocan.
Regional District of Central Kootenay Emergency Operations Centre spokesman Bill Macpherson said more than 550 people used the centres.
Highway 6 into the Slocan Valley was closed to through traffic most of Saturday, affecting staff at Endless Adventures in Crescent Valley.
“We couldn’t even get to work Saturday,” Meredith at Endless Adventure said.
Meredith said it has been difficult to get information regarding the status of the river.
However, through a competitor Endless Adventures was asked to stay off the river.
“We’re not doing any river rides today,” said Meredith, adding the normal popular swimming hole at Crescent Valley beach was empty.
“We’re hoping to get back on the water Monday.”
The evacuation order for Slocan Valley was lifted Saturday afternoon along with Highway 6.
A Hazmat crew from Vancouver spent most of Saturday working to contain the Jet Fuel by using booms, and other various methods.
The reason for the interruption of a good night sleep was due to a tanker truck driver taking the wrong road.
Instead of traveling up Highway 6 to the site of the helicopter launching site, the driver headed up Lemon Creek Forest Service Road.
According to a volunteer fire chief the driver looked like he got turned around after noticing he was on the wrong road, but the road gave way three kilometers from Highway 6 on the way down and the truck fell into Lemon Creek.
The crashed spilled almost all of the 35,000 litres into Lemon Creek, which was quickly flushed through the Slocan River and Kootenay River systems.
The driver of the truck, reported by some media as owned by Calgary-based Executive Flight Centre, was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
The company is responsible for cleaning up the fuel.
RDCK EOC spokesperson Bill Macpherson said the truck was to be removed from the creek Sunday.
The tanker driver suffered minor injuries, but no area residents had reported medical concerns related to the spill.
Dr. Corneil said before the advisory is removed all drinking water must be tested for contaminates.
“We’ll doing more testing and be providing updates as we learn more,” he said.
See RDCK press release: http://thenelsondaily.com/news/eoc-issues-spill-update-provides-contact-information-residents-25762#.UfXH3VO8JE5
See Previous Story: http://thenelsondaily.com/news/iha-issues-water-advisory-25758#.UfV3iVO8JE4
