Investigation into Little Sackville River Continues

ENVIRONMENT/LABOUR--Investigation into Little Sackville River Continues

The Department of Environment and Labour, along with federal fisheries officials, installed a coffer dam in the Little Sackville River today, July 18. The dam will minimize the flow of an unidentified contaminant in the river.

The coffer dam was recommended by experts from the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans. It was placed in the Little Sackville River where it crosses Trans-Canada Highway 101 in Lower Sackville.

The coffer dam is constructed of sandbags and plastic. It catches the material and holds it, preventing it from following the river flow. It is being monitored daily by Environment and Labour staff.

A holding pond is also being pumped out later today. The pond appears to be the resting place for much of the unidentified substance, which is thought to have entered through a municipal storm drain just above the pond. During the pumping, the storm drain will be blocked off by the Halifax Regional Municipality to ensure that only the current contents of the pond are pumped.

The pond holds about 150,000 litres of water, all of which will be pumped and stored until the unidentified substance is identified and can be disposed of properly. Tests performed on July 17 by the municipality showed that the water currently running through the storm drain has normal pH levels. Further outflow from the municipality's storm drain will be diverted into the city's sanitary sewer and will eventually be treated at the Mill Cove sewage treatment plant.

In situations like this, the response is co-ordinated through the Regional Environmental Emergency Team (REET) whose members represent the province's Department of Environment and Labour, Environment Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The team assessed several options before deciding on this course of action.

Initial test results on water samples taken from the river during the weekend are expected back from laboratories today. The intensive, broad-spectrum testing is being co-ordinated by the federal and provincial governments. The results will then be reviewed by experts from Environment and Labour, Environment Canada and Fisheries and Oceans.

Dr. Robert Strang, medical officer of health for the Capital Health District, has said there is no indication that there is a health risk to the public at this time. In response to reports that children are visiting the area and playing with the dead fish, Dr. Strang did advise that, as a precaution, children should be kept away from the area until further information is available.

The Little Sackville River is not a source of drinking water.