The latest water samples from Quesnel Lake and Quesnel River are consistent with previous results and Interior Health reaffirms the water located outside the “Do Not Use” area remains safe to drink.

Ministry of Environment staff collected water quality samples from several different sites and depths on Aug. 26, 2014. All samples results were within the drinking water guidelines with one slight exceedance for aquatic life guidelines (copper).

The copper exceedance does not automatically indicate impacts to aquatic life. Long term exposure to copper above the chronic guidelines is required to cause potential impacts. Further assessments will be conducted to address these concerns.

Ministry staff also collected water samples on Sept. 4, 2014, from Quesnel Lake, Quesnel River and from below the Mount Polley tailings pond breach area. All results for samples taken from Quesnel River off the Likely Bridge were below drinking water and aquatic life guidelines.

The sites sampled at Hazeltine Creek had some exceedances of both drinking water and aquatic life guidelines. However, these samples were targeted primarily to collect water from within the suspended solids plume and do not reflect the quality of the entire water column. Exceedances for drinking water included turbidity, phosphorus, aluminum, iron and manganese. This sample location is within the “Do Not Use” area defined by IHA and are consistent with other sample results taken from this area.

According to Health Canada, there is no evidence of adverse health effects of aluminium, iron, manganese and at levels above the guideline. No health guidelines exist for phosphorus. Drinking water guidelines for manganese and iron are based on taste and staining rather than health issues.

Exceedances for aquatic life guidelines at Hazeltine Creek sites include total copper, vanadium, chromium and zinc. It is important to note, these samples were analysed for total metals bound to sediment and not dissolved metals in water that are bioavailable to aquatic life. Long-term monitoring and testing is necessary to help better determine and understand any potential long-term impacts to aquatic life.

Areas where mines are located can often have elevated levels of metals, meaning naturally occurring metal concentrations are potentially much greater in this region than elsewhere in the province.

All test results have been shared with local First Nations, the First Nations Health Authority, Interior Health and the Cariboo Regional District.

Interior Health continues to advise residents to avoid drinking cloudy water. If they notice increased turbidity, sediment, and/or a change in taste or odour, consider filtration and disinfection per normal water practices or use alternative water sources.

All results and explanations are publically available on the Ministry of Environment’s dedicated Mount Polley site: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/eemp/incidents/2014/mount-polley.htm

Media Contacts:

Media Relations
Ministry of Environment
250 953-3834