Submitted
A motor vehicle incident on May 30 involving a transport truck on Highway 5 caused a diesel spill in the North Thompson River, according to Interior Health.
Residents who get their water from the river between the crash site, which is about 12 km north of Vavenby near Mad Creek, south to the confluence of the North Thompson and Clearwater River, are asked to be alert and check their water for any signs of diesel fuel including sheen or fuel odour.
Residents in the affected area shouldn’t use the river water if it smells or tastes like fuel.
https://www.clearwatertimes.com/news/trucks-diesel-spill-in-north-thompson-river-prompts-health-warning/
This means no drinking, showering, bathing or brushing teeth if a fuel odour is detected. Diesel fuel can pose a health risk following ingestion, inhalation or skin absorption.
There’s been no impact to the Vavenby community water system. To be safe, the Vavenby intake was shut off temporarily, but has since been restarted and the water is being monitored to make sure no fuel has been taken into the system.
The vehicle cargo also included containers of resin and resin hardener, with possible loss of containers into the river.
Due to the individual packaging and low likelihood of a large release, health risk presented by resin material is low.
The Ministry of Environment is monitoring the situation and further information will be provided as necessary.
Vavenby was under a previous Boil Water Notice unrelated to the diesel spill and that notice remains in place.
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