Fuel spill in Sturgeon Lake leads to a Drinking Water Advisory

DAN CEARNS, The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR) has issued a Drinking Water Advisory for some Kawartha Lakes residents, after a reported fuel spill in Sturgeon Lake.

“A Drinking Water Advisory (DWA) has been issued, for those drawing drinking water directly from Sturgeon Lake and part of Pitts Cove Road and Hazel Street to McLernon Street. On Thursday, March 30th, around 10:30 p.m., fuel odours from a culvert were reported to the local Fire Department, where a boom was then placed in the lake near the culvert. The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks was notified, and an inspector attended to the spill the following day. Approximately 30 homes are affected,” an HKPR press release stated. “The HKPR District Health Unit is urging people, who draw water directly from this affected section of Sturgeon Lake, to use bottled water for drinking purposes until further notice. Because of the nature of the fuel spill, boiling water is not effective. Water should not be used for cooking, making juice and infant formula, washing fruits and vegetables, dishwashing or brushing teeth.”

Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks issued a statement, confirming they were aware of the issue.

“The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks takes all spills and threats to the environment very seriously. Our role is to assess any environmental impacts and ensure the responsible parties eliminate any adverse effects, clean up the spill and restore the natural environment,” the statement read. “On Thursday, March 30th, the ministry’s Spills Action Centre received a report, of odours within a culvert and discolouration at the culvert’s outfall in Sturgeon Lake. The City of Kawartha Lakes Fire Department had responded and placed spill containment equipment within the lake, near the outfall.”

The statement added, the next day, “staff, with the ministry and the City of Kawartha Lakes, visited the site,” and the spill is believed to be “a small amount of hydrocarbons.” The source of the spill is near Hazel and Hill Top streets.

“The impacted area is limited to an approximate area of 50-75 metres by 5 metres, along the shoreline. The City of Kawartha Lakes has retained the services of a clean-up contractor and environmental consultant, to further assess, contain and mitigate the spill. This work is ongoing. The ministry continues to assess possible sources and will ensure the spill is cleaned up. We will stay on top of this issue,” the statement concluded.