Water Sampling
The First Nations Health
Authority received the results of August 18th and 19th water quality
samples and evaluated them against the BC and Health Canada Drinking
Water Guidelines. Samples were collected from the Fraser River at
Skyline Road, Gang Ranch and Rudy Johnson Bridge (see figure 2) and were
analysed for physical parameters, total and dissolved metals. Samples
taken from these three sites were compared to baseline samples collected
at the Fraser River near Soda Creek in 2008.
Results
indicate that samples were below all health related guidelines. Samples
did exceed BC and Health Canada Drinking Water Guidelines for the
following non-health parameters: Phosphorus, aluminum, iron and
manganese.
Phosphorus standard applies only to
lakes and is based on preventing algae growth within water systems.
Aluminum is considered an operational measure for certain treated water
systems. Iron and manganese are considered “smell and taste measures.”
At the levels found on testing these parameters have no demonstrated
health effects, either short term or long term. Drinking water
guidelines are generally based on the consumption of 1.5 liters of water
per day and are designed to be protective for chronic, long term
exposure at this level over a lifetime.
Fish sampling project
The
fish sampling project parameters were shared with impacted First
Nations on August 15th. In total, 45 fish samples have been collected
from the sites indicated in green in Figure 2. The FNHA would like to
thank the community harvesters who have donated 2013 and 2014 fish
tissue samples to support this project. Specifically, harvesters from:
Northern Shuswap Tribal Council, Esketemc, Tl’esqox-t'in, (Toosey),
St'át'imc Eco-Resources, Xaxli’p, Xwisten, T'it'q'et, Nazko, Lhtako
Dene, Nlaka'pamux Nation Tribal Council, ?Esdilagh and Coldwater Band
(Nicola Tribal Council).
Figure 1: Fish Tissue samples collected
| Upper Fraser | Mid-Fraser |
| Pre-Mount Polley | Post Mount Polley | Pre-Mount Polley | Post Mount Polley |
| 7 | 22 | 6 | 10 |
| 29 samples | 16 Samples |
The
first set of fish tissue results is expected this week. Long term
monitoring of fish will be needed to determine if fish habitat has been
impacted or if future salmon runs will have accumulated the metals of
concern. Working with impacted Nations, the FNHA is seeking to
understand federal, provincial, and industry roles and responsibilities
in terms of the longer-term monitoring and remediation needs.
FNHA will continue to receive and review new data and assess for public health risks.
Figure 2: Map of FNHA sample locations for water and fish
