1. The Ministry of Environment received water samples from Polley Lake late last night and have shared them with Interior Health (IH). The health authority is reviewing them closely and is expected to provide an update on water quality and the water advisory in place later today.
2. The Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association will highlight the tourism stories of the region in meetings with international travel media next week at the GoMedia Marketplace in Winnipeg. Hosted by the Canadian Tourism Commission, this is the largest annual travel media event in Canada where over 100 Canadian tourism marketers and businesses meet with over 300 international media who focus on travel.
More information is available athttp://www.env.gov.bc.ca/eemp/incidents/2014/mount-polley.htm
Water Restrictions Update:
Residents of the area impacted by the Mount Polley Mine Tailings Pond Breach on August 4 are advised of the latest health update:
Interior Health (IH) has reviewed the most recent water sample results from Ministry of Environment (MoE). These results from Polley Lake are similar to those received August 9 from Imperial Mines.
As a result all Do Not Use water restrictions are rescinded south of 6236 Cedar Creek Road into Quesnel Lake to within 100 metres of the visible sediment plume where Hazeltine Creek runs into Quesnel Lake (see attached map). This means that water drawn from south of 6236 Cedar Creek Road on the Quesnel River and the majority of Quesnel Lake may be consumed per normal practice. It is now safe from a human health perspective for drinking water, personal use, fishing, swimming, and recreational purposes.
For residents in this rescinded order area, Interior Health has no reason to believe that this water was ever exposed to unsafe levels of contaminants from the mine breach. As a result, flushing and testing of individual water supply systems is not considered necessary.
Until further notice, a Do Not Use order for drinking water, personal, and recreational use remains in effect for the impact zone directly affected by the breach which includes Polley Lake, Hazeltine Creek, and on Quesnel Lake, but only the area within 100 metres of the visible sediment plume where Hazeltine Creek runs into Quesnel Lake (see attached map). The public should also continue to refrain from using these waterways for recreational purposes. This includes swimming and fishing.
For residents who remain under the DNU Order, please contact your local IH Health Protection Office at 1-888-702-7771 for more information.
Interior Health understands the significant impact of the precautionary do not use orders over the last nine days on the physical, social, economic, emotional, and spiritual well-being for residents and First Nation community members in the area. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to determine and reduce the risk of any human health impacts related to this incident.
A map of the water restriction areas is available at http://bit.ly/1oI8rh6.
Information on Ministry of Environment water sampling is available at:
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/eemp/incidents/2014/mount-polley.htm.
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