|
Waterloo water tainted: Inspectors seek chemical spill's origin |
|
Residents of Waterloo are being advised not to drink their water until further notice following the discovery of traces of a toxic solvent in the municipal H2O system.
The town began supplying free bottled water to residents following the announcement Friday morning that trichloroethylene, or TCE, had been found in tests starting on Jan. 23. Daily follow-ups validated the presence of TCE in the Taylor well.
"We are doing this strictly as a precaution, and to ensure that everyone has the best possible information," said Mayor Pascal Russell. The announcement was followed up by two public information hearings the night of March 23.
Testing for chemicals is done every three months, and this is the first time TCE has shown up, Russell said.
The volatile chemical is colourless and is not found naturally in the environment. It is used mainly as a solvent to clean metal. It is also used in vinyl coatings and resins, as a solvent in the textile industry and as a paint remover.
The contamination was caused by a chemical spill within the area of the local water table, and has since leeched into the town's underground water supply.
The amount of TCE in the water is not extremely high. Of the nine tests carried out so far, the average concentration has been 15.2 micrograms per litre, with the highest test showing 26.5 micrograms per litre. The Quebec government allows up to 50 mg/l, a figure which will likely be changed in the near future to reflect Health Canada's recommendation of 5 mg/l.
"The acceptable levels are always being revised, usually downwards," said Emile Grieco of the Quebec Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks.
In high concentrations, TCE can quickly become dangerous to human health. In lower concentrations like those found in Waterloo, the health risks are less obvious. Dr. Jocelyne Sauv?, director of public health for the Mont?r?gie health and social services agency, said longterm exposure (upwards of 30 years) to low levels of the chemical may cause liver, kidney and immune system illnesses and cancers. Some studies have shown a slightly higher than average incidence of heart defects in babies exposed to TCE in the first trimester of pregnancy.
The main source of exposure is by drinking contaminated tap water. However Sauv? noted that TCE can penetrate the skin while a person takes a bath or shower. It can also evaporate, making it possible to breathe in while showering.
Public health authorities advise using bottled water for drinking or cooking food. Lengthy baths and showers should be avoided, and your home should be well ventilated, especially the bathroom while bathing.
You can brush your teeth with tap water, taking care not to swallow it. People can wash fruit and vegetables, but should take extra care to dry them before eating.
Boiling the water is no help, and will actually release TCE into the air where it can be inhaled. The recommendation to avoid consuming town water applies to all of Waterloo's 4,400 residents, as well as 32 residences in Shefford connected to the system. It also applies to pets and farm animals that may be watered from the system.
To deal with the problem, the Town of Waterloo is offering bottled water to residents free of charge. The water is being given out at the municipal fire hall (330 Lewis), from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. The town's volunteer firefighters will handle the distribution.
"People will have to show proof of their residence," said Waterloo fire chief Patrick Gallagher.
Gallagher said the town is calculating an average of two litres of water per person per day. So a family of four would be eligible for two four-gallon containers of water daily.
So where did the chemical spill come from? Grieco said the water table supplying the Taylor well, which has been in use since the 1930s, is fairly shallow and covers a relatively small area. Inspectors have already begun looking at businesses in the area around the municipal well.
"We know where to look," Grieco said.
But just how long it will take before the water supply is no longer contaminated is another matter altogether. Grieco said depending on the amount spilled or dumped, TCE can remain in the soil for a fairly long time.
Julie Cormier of the engineering firm Teknika said Waterloo's existing filtration system removes some of the TCE from the water, but not enough. Increased aeration has helped remove more of the toxic solvent, but not enough. Cormier said any additional filtration would have to be approved by the provincial environment ministry, which takes time. So the residents of Waterloo are likely to be drinking bottled water for weeks, if not months to come.
By Maurice Crossfield
March 26 |
Montreal Canadiens
