Accessibility and Access Keys [0]
Provincial and Renfrew County officials and municipalities along the Ottawa River are keeping a careful eye on a diesel fuel spill which is making its way downstream from Mattawa.
The spill, estimated to be some 17,000 litres, is the result of a train derailment which happened at 3 a. m. June 3, about 16 km east of Mattawa. A train operated by Ottawa Valley Railway reportedly hit a washout on the line, causing cars to jump the tracks.
The situation is being monitored by a team from the Ministry of the Environment, Spills Action Centre and the Renfrew County and District Health Unit, all of which have been in constant contact with communities downstream. As of press time, the fuel spill remains above the dam at Rolphton.
Original estimates had the fuel plume reaching Pembroke by noon today, if it gets past the Rolphton dam, but it appears the spill has been moving a lot slower than previously projected.
According to MOE spokesperson Kate Jordan, as of Thursday afternoon the spill has moved 16 km from its source, and is in the process of being cleaned up.
“Because it is moving slower than expected, the railway company was able to contact a cleanup company, which has been able to install booms at the site this morning,” she said.
Still, the environment agency isn’t taking chances, and has staff on site monitoring the situation.
“Our primary concern is the impact this will have on the water and all who use it, from wildlife to communities and individuals who take their water from the river,” Ms. Jordan said. To that end, MOE officials have been contacting local municipalities and advising them of the developing situation.
While everyone is taking precautions – some communities in the immediate vicinity of the spill have closed down their water plant intakes while others, including Petawawa and Pembroke, have topped up their reservoirs and remain ready to do the same if needed – officials are telling the public there is no reason to panic over this matter.
Bob Schreader, the Renfrew County Health Unit’s acting manager for environmental health, said diesel fuel floats, and since water intakes normally rest below the river’s surface, people and municipalities which draw water directly from the river shouldn’t be affected if the spill makes it this far downstream.
“The contaminants aren’t in the water itself, but on the surface,” he said. Because of the distances involved which the spill would have to cover to reach this section of the river, the size of the Ottawa River and the amount of fuel spilled, most of the diesel will have evaporated within 24 hours, he added.
Mr. Schreader noted the health unit wouldn’t advise people to drink untreated water from the Ottawa River even in the best of circumstances, and added the public usually doesn’t; instead, they use the water for cooking, washing and bathing.
He said the MOE, which is acting as the lead agency on this spill, has been monitoring the river for signs of contamination.
In Pembroke, city staff issued a press release explaining the situation, and its contingency plan should the need arise for it to be implemented.
It stated while the city didn’t anticipate any impact on the municipality’s water source, and in fact felt it “unlikely” there would be any need to shut off the water intake, it is prepared to do so. If it had to, Pembroke would have enough water to last six hours on its water supplies alone, using its stores from the Bell Street water tower and the Quarry Road reservoir, depending on water consumption. In that event, the public would then be notified to conserve water.
Doug Sitland, the city’s operations manager, said he doesn’t expect the city will need to shut off its intakes, even if traces of the diesel spill reach this far. He said when one considered the time and distance the fuel would have to travel, the fact diesel fuel floats, and the vast size of the Ottawa River, it is highly doubtful enough of the plume will remain intact to do anything.
“17,000 litres is not very much in the bigger scheme of things,” he said.
Mr. Sitland did add the precautions being taken are a good idea, as the water plant cannot treat water to get rid of diesel fuel, so being ready to shut off the intakes, if necessary, makes sense.
Pembroke Mayor Ed Jacyno said he wasn’t thrilled by news of the spill, but he is confident the city can protect its water supply.
“We have a million-gallon reserve of water if we have to shut down the intake,” he said, adding “hopefully we won’t have to go that route.”
The mayor said city staff are monitoring the situation regularly, and are keeping an eye out for any signs of diesel in the water.
Petawawa Mayor Bob Sweet said his town staff are on alert, and also have been monitoring the water quality. He said they have been spending the day topping up the water supply in the event they make the decision to close the intakes.
“We will be asking people to refrain from using water to wash their cars and sprinkle the lawns for the next little while, as a precaution,” Mayor Sweet said.
“This is just to be on the safe side.” Updates on the spill situation are
expected to be made later today.
Stephen Uhler is a Daily Observer reporter
Article ID# 1599531