Communities shut water intake from B.C. lake after fuel spill reaches 80,000 litres

UPDATE, Nov. 6, 9:37 p.m. PT — Michael Grenier, director for Area J of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD), said water test results have shown the water meets B.C. standards for drinking, wildlife and irrigation as of Thursday. TNRD water systems are open and private water system operators have been informed of the test results. The water will continue to be tested.

Original story:

A local official says small communities on Kamloops Lake in British Columbia have been shutting down their intakes from the waterway after it was revealed that more than 80,000 litres of aviation fuel spilled on its shores in a train derailment last weekend.

The province's estimate of the spill size was increased late Wednesday, prompting a request for water-quality results from Michael Grenier, director for Area J of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.

Grenier said the spill is "substantially larger" than what was "originally anticipated," creating a concern for communities that draw water from the lake and downstream.

He said he's anxious to see water test results that the district was "insisting on" on Wednesday.

B.C.'s Environment Ministry said results from samples collected on Sunday and Monday have been "received and reviewed" by the Interior Health authority.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) said the derailment occurred on Saturday night, about 20 kilometres west of Kamloops, and it involved a locomotive and 17 rail cars, two of which were carrying aviation fuel.

The ministry said Tuesday that about 12,700 litres of aviation fuel had been released into the environment, but late Wednesday said a further 68,000 litres had escaped a second rail car.

It said three empty rail cars containing residual gasoline remain at the derailment site, with one on the slope leading to the lake, and the other two in the water.

Grenier said he expects the test results to come back negative for contamination, but some measures have been taken out of "abundance of caution."

He said that across the lake, the community of Frederick has been advised by Interior Health not to draw water from the lake. Instead, the railway company has been providing bottled water, said Grenier.

He said the lakeside community of Tobiano, seven kilometres from the derailment site, had taken the precaution of shutting off its water intake.

"They have a reservoir that can last them several days, and so ... they have that capability," he said, adding that the test results would be known "long before they run out of water."