A spill of diesel fuel into the Similkameen River following a truck accident has led the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Interior Health to issue an advisory about using affected water downstream.
The accident occurred about 8 km east of East Gate at Manning Park on Highway 3 Monday morning.
“As a precaution, Interior Health is advising residents who draw water from the Similkameen River downstream of the spill site to be on the lookout for signs of fuel contamination,” said a statement from Interior Health issued Monday afternoon.
“Do not use the river water if it smells or tastes like fuel. This includes for irrigation or agricultural purposes. Diesel fuel can pose a health risk following ingestion, inhalation and skin absorption.”
Residents who have private water sources that draw from the river, or from shallow wells near the river in the affected area, are advised to avoid use of the water if they smell or taste fuel, or if they see a fuel sheen on the surface of the water, the statement said.
The Similkameen River flows close to Highway 3 from Manning Park to near Nighthawk Road, where Highway 3 leaves the river to climb to Richter Pass. It then flows into Washington State, eventually joining the Okanogan River south of Oroville, WA.
The Interior Health statement said the amount of fuel leaked was still unknown, but media reports have put it at about 20,000 litres, citing the Ministry of Environment.
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