No-use water advisory lifted for Corunna neighborhood

A no-use water advisory for a Corunna neighborhood has been lifted.

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The public health office for the area Friday announced the end of its advisory for well water users near Hill and Lyndoch streets in the Lambton County community that had been in place for six days.

A 12,000-liter diesel spill from a ruptured tank on a CSX train locomotive Aug. 3 on the Arlanxeo site in Sarnia prompted the advisoryafter an “unknown quantity” of fuel made it through storm drains into the nearby St. Clair River, a CSX official has said.

Ontario Environment Minister Gary Wheeler said Wednesday the spill presented no threat to the public and “only a slight sheen was observed on the St. Clair River.”

Most people in St. Clair Township get their water from Lake Huron using Lambton Area Water Supply System (LAWSS), but an estimated five or six homes use water from the river drawn through private systems, Mayor Jeff Agar has estimated.

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Lambton Public Health, in a news releases, said the ministry has confirmed “there are no longer impacts to private drinking water systems or recreational water use based on the spill.

Even still, public health officials are advising nearby residents with private water systems to take the following steps:

• Flush cold water taps for at least one minute before using the water.
• Run drinking water fountains for one minute before consuming the water.
• Flush all garden hoses by running water for one minute.
• Drain and refill hot water tanks.
• Replace water filters used to filter untreated water.

Residents with private water systems are being notified directly, public health officials said.

Recreational water users should also assess weather and water conditions for possible health risks before going into the water, officials said.

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Agar said he’s pleased the advisory has been lifted, but still wants to see an investigation into what happened.

St. Clair Township wasn’t notified about diesel spilling into the river, and hours later a sheen was spotted on the water in Corunna, he said.

“I want to see some kind of investigation from the Ministry of Environment and BASES (Bluewater Association for Safety, Environment and Sustainability) and everybody, the whole works, how this happened,” he said.

There’s been no word yet if such an investigation will occur, he said.

When spills or other industrial incidents occur, “it all has to be communicated down the line,” he said.

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