Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK
May 30, 2019 - 3:28 PM
VAVENBY – A motor vehicle incident involving a transport truck along Highway 5 has resulted in diesel contamination in the North Thompson River.
In a news release issued today, May 30, Interior Health says residents who draw their water from the river near the crash site, approximately 12 kilometres north of Vavenby near Mad Creek, are advised to be alert and check their water for any signs of diesel including sheen or fuel odour.
“All residents in the affected area should not use the river water if it smells or tastes like fuel. This means no drinking, showering, bathing, or brushing teeth if a fuel odour is detected,” Interior Health says in a media release. Diesel fuel can pose a health risk following ingestion, inhalation or skin absorption.
Interior Health also says there has been no impact to the Vavenby Community Water system, but as a precaution, the Vavenby intake was shut off temporarily and has since been restarted. The water will be monitored to ensure that no fuel was taken into the system.
Vavenby was under a previous boil water advisory unrelated to the this diesel spill, which remains in place, Interior Health says.
The transport truck’s cargo included containers of resin and resin hardener which may have been lost in the river. The health authority says the health risk presented by resin material is low due to the individual packaging and low likelihood of a large release.
The Ministry of Environment is monitoring the situation and further information will be provided as necessary.
This isn’t the first time the Vavenby water system has been affected by a truck crash. The small community in east-central British Columbia was notified in Dec. 2018 and January 2017 of diesel leaking into the community’s water supply.
For past stories on Vavenby diesel spills go here.
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News from © iNFOnews, 2019