FAQs
Community Safety:
Q: Is there any risk to the community, and how is the crisis response team actively ensuring our safety?
A:There is no immediate cause for concern. Although water tests have consistently shown negative results, precautions about drinking are advised. To date, there is no contamination in the drinking water. The crisis response team is actively overseeing the situation, monitoring the environment, and making progress on mitigating the effects of the incident. The team is implementing precautionary measures, such as frequent reassessment of buildings in higher-risk areas. They are promptly addressing any potential issues to ensure the safety of our community. Air quality equipment has been installed to monitor and ensure the safety of the community. Please be aware that the situation is evolving, and information provided here can change. Regular updates will be communicated via the Kahnawake 911 Facebook page and kahnawakeresponse.com.
Q: Are there any health concerns for my child if they attend Karihwanoron school?
A: The team has been working closely with the school to ensure safety. There has been no indication of any exposure at Kariwanoron school. Children can safely play outside under adult supervision, avoiding the creek. The EHS team continues to support environmental monitoring near the school and has consulted with several Public Health doctors and experts. As the school engages in traditional land-based activities such as growing squash, corn, and beans, soil testing in the yard has been conducted, revealing no traces of fuel. Although water tests have consistently shown negative results, precautions about drinking are advised. To date, there is no contamination in the drinking water. Air quality equipment has been installed to monitor and ensure the safety of the community. Please be aware that the situation is evolving, and information provided here can change. Regular updates will be communicated via the Kahnawake 911 Facebook page and kahnawakeresponse.com.
Q: Can homeowners outside the high or medium-risk areas receive additional water test kits?
A: In the upcoming weeks, additional water test kits will be available from EHS, and homeowners will receive them based on their risk level.
Q: Can all homeowners along Route 207 request water and air testing?
A: EHS is offering indoor air and water quality tests to homes upon request. Monitoring is already underway for at-risk homes.
Q: Is it safe to let livestock outside?
A: Livestock can go outside; however, they should not consume water from the river. An alternate drinking water source should be made available for your livestock.
Q: Are procedures in place for homeowners if more homes are affected?
A: Yes, we have protocols prepared to ensure everyone can be taken care of.
Q: Are other chemicals found in the river besides diesel?
A: We know the source of the incident was diesel, and so sampling has focused on detecting hydrocarbons. Other parameters are monitored as part of KEPO’s long-term monitoring strategy, and results are published through their website: www.kahnawakeenvironment.com.
Situation Overview:
Q: Is the tank still spilling fuel?
A: No, the tanker was removed from the spill site shortly after the incident occurred in early February.
Q: Is the water of the Suzanne River still contaminated?
A: There are still pockets of diesel being detected in the Suzanne River, indicating that the water is still contaminated. We are continuing to collect and remove diesel from the water using booms and vacuum trucks.
Q: Is the water safe to drink in the affected area on Zachary Road?
A: The crisis response team strongly advises against consuming well water from homes in this area, including activities like tooth brushing, cooking, and washing vegetables due to the ongoing situation.
Q: Are there any restrictions on other water-related activities for residents in the affected area?
A: Residents can safely shower, wash hands, dishwash, and do laundry with their household water, despite the advisory focusing strictly on well water consumption in the impacted zone on Zachary Road.
Testing and Detection Procedures:
Q: What is the purpose of the Hydrocarbon Qualitative Test?
A: The Hydrocarbon Qualitative Test ensures water safety by identifying the presence of hydrocarbons (oils) in our drinking water.
Q: Could you provide a step-by-step overview of the testing procedures for the Hydrocarbon Qualitative Test?
A: To conduct the test, follow these organized steps:
1. Let water run for 2-3 minutes.
2. Fill a sample plastic vial with 5 mL of water.
3. Hold the test strip by the handle (black portion).
4. Dip the blue portion of the test strip into the water, ensuring at least 50% of the strip is immersed, with a gentle back-and-forth motion for 20 seconds.
5. Hold the test strip in your hands; avoid placing it on surfaces to prevent inaccuracies.
6. After 10 seconds, observe the concentration of black spots on the blue portion, noting that results should not be read after 1 minute as it may provide inaccurate results.
7. A positive result, indicated by black spots, signifies the presence of hydrocarbons (oils), prompting immediate notification to Environmental Health Services (EHS) using the provided contact information.
Diesel Characteristics and Environmental Impact:
Q: What is diesel, and how is it different from other petroleum products?
A: Diesel is a light, refined petroleum product derived from crude oil, specifically used to power combustion engines.
Q: How does a diesel spill impact aquatic life, and what are the risks for mammals and birds?
A: Diesel spills pose a moderate acute toxicity risk to fish and invertebrates in direct contact. Mammals and birds can be adversely affected through direct contact or ingestion of diesel.
Q: What happens when diesel penetrates shoreline sediments, and how long can it persist?
A: Diesel that infiltrates shoreline sediments may persist for months to years, especially when conditions are unfavorable for natural removal or degradation.
Q: How does the soaking of larger diesel amounts into wetland soils affect animals and plants?
A: In areas where significant amounts of diesel soaked into wetland soils, high mortality of animals and plants can be expected. The impact on the wetlands of the Suzanne River remains uncertain.
Q: In what ways can diesel spread in the environment, and what are its primary modes of movement?
A: Diesel primarily spreads in the environment through evaporation, spreading, and drifting. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial to assessing the potential impact of a diesel spill, and we continue to evaluate the fate of the diesel in the environment, particularly now that the snow has melted.
Identification and Characteristics of Diesel:
Q: What signs should residents be aware of to identify diesel?
A: Residents can recognize signs of a diesel spill by detecting a distinctive sweet and acrid smell. If such an odor is noticed, it is essential to remain vigilant and report it for further assessment and guidance. If you detect this odor indoors, it is recommended to seek fresh air and call for assistance.
Q: How does a diesel spill differ in significance for the affected Suzanne River compared to an oil spill?
A: Diesel spills, known for their lower density and fluid nature, are less sticky and viscous. This is a diesel spill, not a heavy oil spill. The cleanup process is more manageable, and the potential environmental impact is less severe.
Diesel Spill Management:
Q: How is the control of a diesel spill managed in the affected area on Zachary Road?
A: The implementation of underflow dams and containment booms is deployed to pool fuel and provide further travel downriver. Absorption booms and vacuum trucks are then used to collect the oil from the water.
Q: What structures are utilized to minimize the spread of diesel in the affected Zachary Road area?
A: The control measures implemented include underflow dams, containment and absorbent booms, vacuum trucks, and regular monitoring providing a multi-faceted approach to minimize the impact on the environment.
Q: How do underflow dams function in managing a diesel spill?
A: Underflow dams use reverse-angled culverts to hold pond water and diesel behind the dam while allowing water to flow through the dam from the bottom, leaving the diesel floating on the surface trapped by the dam.
Q: What is the role of booms in slowing the spread of diesel in the affected Zachary Road area?
A: We are using two types of booms. Containment booms are used to collect and hold fuel, similar to the underflow booms, which then allows a vacuum truck to pump out the diesel. Absorbent booms are also being used. These booms soak up smaller quantities of diesel, which can then be removed from the water with the boom.
Q: Can you share the monitoring and remediation plans with the community?
A: Regular updates on monitoring and remediation plans will be communicated via the Kahnawake 911 Facebook page and kahnawakeresponse.com.
Q: What is the size of the wetland, and what percentage is affected?
A: The warmer weather and lack of snow and ice have allowed us to complete a field reconnaissance effort with external experts. Pockets of fuel were found in areas ponded up by beaver dams and behind debris jams in the river. Additional absorbent booms were installed, and the debris piles are being removed and disposed of so that the diesel can be directed to the booms.
Diesel Spread and Movement:
Q: Where is the primary movement of the diesel spill expected to occur?
A: The diesel spill is anticipated to primarily move downstream through watercourses connected to the incident site, flowing down the Suzanne River and its associated streams.
Q: What geographical area does the Suzanne River watershed cover?
A: The Suzanne River watershed encompasses the red area on the map provided, draining rain, snow, and water into the Suzanne River, eventually flowing into the St. Lawrence River.
Q: Can diesel from the incident site spread beyond the Suzanne River watershed?
A: It is unlikely that diesel from the incident site will spread to streams and rivers outside the Suzanne River watershed.
Q: How do natural flow barriers influence the movement of diesel within the watershed?
A: Natural flow barriers, such as beaver dams, have slowed the flow of diesel, in some cases acting similarly to the control structures we have deployed, although the impacts to the wildlife in these areas are not yet known.
Q: What impact do low flow areas, such as pools and wetlands, have on diesel accumulation within the watershed?
A: Low flow areas like pools in streams and rivers, as well as wetlands, result in the accumulation of diesel, reducing the volume of diesel downstream. We have been in the field looking for these areas of accumulation so that they can be cleaned up before they move further downstream.