The City of Abbotsford says it’s still working to clean up the mess caused by firefighting foam that spilled last week into Stoney Creek waters.
On July 4, the city announced it had begun working to contain and remediate the worst effects of an accidental spill from a disconnected hose that ran into a storm drain and, ultimately, the waterway.
The city says it now knows how bad those effects were.
“A total of 1,198 fish were collected and moved to fresh water, and 1,048 deceased fish were removed,” it said in a statement Monday.
The statement says the city is working with Semá:th First Nation, Stó:lo Guardians, Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance and environmental consultants, GHD, to remove fish from the contaminated water.
It says the city has contracted an industrial services company, Quantum Murray Environmental, to treat contaminated water and return it to the creek.
“To date, more than 211,000 gallons of water has been treated. Fish, sediment, water, and surrounding vegetation are also being tested to ensure containment of any contaminants.”
Abbotsford Fire Chief Erick Peterson told CityNews Thursday that the department is investigating the cause of the spill.
He says the foam is a common suppressant used by firefighters everywhere.
“We use it to ‘make water wetter’ — is what we use to describe it. It allows [water] to penetrate and fight fire more effectively, and usually it’s in a concentration that is watered down. It’s watered down typically — used in percentages of one to three per cent. And what it appears is that a concentration of firefighting foam went into the storm sewer, and not just the watered-down or diluted firefighting foam,” said Peterson.
The City of Abbotsford is reminding residents visiting the park to stick to designated paths, keep pets on leashes, and not drink the creek water.
If you believe you or your pets have symptoms related to exposure to a chemical or toxin in the environment, the city says you should seek attention from a medical professional.