Arsenic advisory for smaller lakes
Residents told to avoid drinking water from Frame, Jackfish, Rat and Kam lakes
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Friday, April 29, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Parents do not need to stop their children from swimming at the beach at Fred Henne Territorial Park on Long Lake due to high arsenic levels but they shouldn't drink the water.
Dr. Andre Corriveau, NWT chief public health officer, points to a map during a media briefing showing elevated arsenic levels in lakes in and around Yellowknife. His office issued a public health advisory yesterday telling residents to avoid exposure to elevated arsenic levels found in lakes near the Giant Mine site. - John McFadden/NNSL photo |
That is according to Dr. Andre Corriveau, the NWT's chief public health officer. His office issued a public health advisory yesterday after higher than normal arsenic levels were detected in some lakes in and around Yellowknife.
It advised residents about the precautions they can take to avoid those elevated arsenic levels.
According to the territorial government's Department of Health and Social Services, concentrations of arsenic are highest in lakes near the new bypass road around Giant Mine, lakes that are downwind of the mine that ended with the mine's closure in 1999.
Corriveau said until the new bypass road was completed, access to some of these smaller lakes was quite limited.
Concentrations are consistently above 100 parts per billion (ppb) in these lakes and one lake is higher than 600 ppb, stated the department. Arsenic levels are above federal drinking water guidelines of 10 ppb in Long Lake, Frame Lake, Jackfish Lake, Rat Lake, Kam Lake, Vee Lake, Lower Martin Lake and Martin Lake.
The doctor said part of the information in the advisory has always been in place.
"We always advise people not to drink untreated raw water because there are concerns with bacterial contamination. That has nothing to do with the arsenic," said Corriveau.
The department is also recommending that people avoid fishing and harvesting berries, mushrooms and other edible plants from areas around the bypass road.
The beach at Long Lake in Fred Henne Territorial Park is a popular swimming spot for Yellowknifers. Corriveau said arsenic is absorbed by the body quite slowly and he has no concerns about people swimming there and he is confident it does not pose a serious health risk.
Frame Lake is sort of in a category of its own, according to Corriveau.
"Frame Lake - the public beach was closed decades ago. There are many other issues with Frame Lake. It was used (as) a dumping ground. We think it is still OK to canoe on the lake but not necessarily (to) swim or eat fish caught from it although we are told it is not a very good fishing lake."
Corriveau said even though it was a University of Ottawa study released earlier this year that alerted the public to the high arsenic levels in smaller lakes around Yellowknife, he said the territorial government has been studying and monitoring the water quality in the area on an ongoing basis. He added there was no delay in sharing the information with the public.
"It was important that we take the time to review the data in detail and then release it," Corriveau said. "My goal was to release it before the snow and ice melts, before people start to use the areas."
The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, which oversees territorial parks, will soon be working with the city to erect signs telling the public about the high arsenic levels, including on places such as Prospector's Trail at Fred Henne.
Corriveau stressed more than a few times during yesterday's media briefing that arsenic in lakes is no reason for residents and tourists alike to avoid enjoying them. For the sake of government transparency, he said, he felt it was important to share the arsenic data with the public.
Arsenic was a byproduct of the gold refining process used at Giant Mine for decades.
Arsenic levels in Yellowknife-area bodies of water
Within Health Canada's drinking water guidelines (considered safe for swimming): Yellowknife Bay, Yellowknife River, Walsh Lake and Prosperous Lake
Outside Health Canada's drinking water guidelines (above 10 parts per billion): Long Lake, Vee Lake, Lower Martin and Martin Lake
Lakes with elevated arsenic levels (more than 52 parts per billion): Frame Lake, Jackfish Lake, Rat Lake and Kam Lake
Source: GNWT
