Shuswap spill exaggerated?

Photo: Contributed - Google Earth

A spill of chemicals into Shuswap Lake originated at an area plywood plant, but officials have assured the leak has been taken care of and no more water is being discharged into the lake.

The company also claims the size of the spill has been exaggerated.

In a prepared statement, Canoe Forest Products confirmed a discharge of potentially contaminated water occurred at the company’s plywood plant in Canoe, near Salmon Arm.

“We have established the origin of the water leak that led to this discharge, and repaired the leak,” said Marcello Angelozzi, Canoe FP’s operations manager.

“There is no longer any water being discharged from the plant. We are now working with provincial and federal agencies to determine what, if any, impacts there are as a result of this incident.”

On March 7, there was evidence of a water leak with accumulations of water in the glue room pit — where the glue used in making plywood sheets is collected.

While the leak was being investigated, the increased volume of water was pumped out of the glue pit to collection vats outside.

The company said it “appears some of the water may have escaped and possibly entered the Shuswap Lake shoreline. Reports, however, that 'thousands of litres' reached the lake are inaccurate,” but did not elaborate on how much contaminated water entered the lake.

Canoe Forest Products went on to say it takes responsibility for the accident, "and we will work with the proper agencies to ensure impacts are minimized.”

The initial problem was traced to a plumbing leak in the mill, and has since been repaired. The area of discharge has been contained and will be remediated as necessary.

Officers from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Conservation Officer Service were on site yesterday and Canoe Forest Products is working with them and Interior Health to assess the risk and determine next steps.

At no time was there any risk to employee safety.

Canoe Forest Products said it regrets any impacts, however temporary, on the people of Salmon Arm, and applauds Interior Health and the City of Salmon Arm in taking the extraordinary precautions they did to ensure any possible public health impacts were minimized.

On March 15, IH issued a statement saying the spill had occurred two kilometres from the Salmon Arm water intake pipe, forcing the community to switch to its Metford Dam water source.

The situation is being closely monitored and updates will be made available on a regular basis and posted at canoefp.com.