By: Saeed Akhtar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter
A crude oil spill in the St. Clair River near the Suncor plant in Sarnia has raised concerns, but officials assure that there is no immediate threat to the water supply in Chatham-Kent.
The spill, which was detected at 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, prompted a response from the Spill Action Centre (SAC). Two downstream refineries have deployed booms to capture contaminants from the river. Despite a public notice issued by St. Clair Township, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent has stated that its water supply remains unaffected by the incident.
Eric Labadie, Manager of Corporate Communications for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, emphasized that there is no current concern for local water. “The Wallaceburg Water Treatment Plant, which serves Chatham-Kent residents by processing water from the Chenal Ecarte, is not at risk from the spill at this time,” Labadie said.
To proactively address any potential risks, the Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission (CKPUC) announced that the Wallaceburg Water Treatment Plant will temporarily shut down its water intake on Friday, March 28. The decision is based on the estimated 24-hour travel time for water from the spill site to the intake. This precautionary measure aims to mitigate any possible contamination.
Suncor, in a statement regarding the spill, emphasized that the safety of workers, the community, and the environment is their top priority. “We are making notifications to the appropriate parties to ensure this response has the necessary support. Community members may notice an odor near the Suncor dock, and further instructions will be issued by the municipality if necessary,” the company stated. They assured that additional information would be provided as the situation develops.
Chatham-Kent residents are encouraged to sign up for CKAlert, the municipality’s emergency notification system, to receive timely updates. To register for CKAlert, visit www.CKAlert.ca.
The Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide further updates if needed.
