New arsenic testing results are in for Kam Lake, but the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 chief public health officer says not much will change in terms of his health advice to residents.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a big improvement from 10 years ago but SA国际影视传媒� itSA国际影视传媒檚 still more than 20 times the drinking water guidelines,SA国际影视传媒� said Andre Corriveau of the waterSA国际影视传媒檚 high arsenic concentration.
Under-ice data collected by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources this April showed the average level of arsenic in Kam Lake was about 240 parts per billion. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 24 times higher than Health CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 guidelines for safe drinking water, which say it should contain less than 10 parts per billion of dissolved arsenic.
SA国际影视传媒淵ou can catch and release, but you shouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be using the fish from that lake as a source of food,SA国际影视传媒� said Corriveau of Kam Lake. SA国际影视传媒淭he other issue for me in terms of the advice we provide letSA国际影视传媒檚 say for fish, is that if itSA国际影视传媒檚 contaminated with arsenic, it might have other contaminants like mercury or things that mines produce.SA国际影视传媒�
Robert Jenkins, director of water resources at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said arsenic levels were about twice as high in Kam Lake during the late 1980s, but have since decreased.
SA国际影视传媒淩ight now SA国际影视传媒� weSA国际影视传媒檙e just trying to understand the conditions in the lake,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚f weSA国际影视传媒檙e seeing elevated results, we need to look at what are the causes, what are the sources of that, and how will things potentially change through time.SA国际影视传媒�
Seven locations at Kam Lake and three at Grace Lake were tested this April, according to Jenkins.
The results showed arsenic levels at Grace Lake were 15 parts per billion, just over Health CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 safe drinking water guidelines.
A public advisory released by the Department of Health and Social Services this April shows swimming and catch-and-release fishing is OK in lakes with arsenic levels such as those found in Grace Lake.
The department is also cross-referencing its findings with those of Miramar Northern Mining Ltd., which is required under a water licence to test arsenic levels in Kam Lake during open-water season.
The company is in charge of remediating Con Mine.
MiramarSA国际影视传媒檚 October 2016 testing results showed arsenic levels were similar to the departmentSA国际影视传媒檚 recent findings.
Jenkins said the department is planning do more testing this fall.
SA国际影视传媒淲e just want to see is the water chemistry and quality changing throughout the season and what a difference might be between under ice samples and open water samples,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Kam Lake MLA Kieron Testart, who raised concerns about water quality in Kam Lake earlier this year in the legislative assembly, said he is pleased to see work continuing on the issue.
SA国际影视传媒淭he results arenSA国际影视传媒檛 telling us anything that we didnSA国际影视传媒檛 already know, which is that we have a lot of work left to do,SA国际影视传媒� Testart said. SA国际影视传媒淭he important thing is we do these studies now and we do them on regular intervals so we can communicate that information to the public.SA国际影视传媒�
He added it needs to be made clear for residents which lakes are safe and which are not.
Testart is hosting a town hall next Friday evening at the Multiplex so residents can pose questions about arsenic.
The health minister and staff from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Giant Mine Remediation Project will also be in attendance, he said.
