An update on water sampling around CFB North Bay after the 2017 discovery of PFAs, which can be found in consumer and industrial products and specialized chemical applications like fire-fighting foams.

Officials say water samples continue to remain below Health Canada’s drinking water guidelines and screening values.

They also say ongoing sampling at nearby creeks and Trout Lake also remains below federal guidelines for environmental protection.

The Department of National Defence says testing will continue over the coming year while also working with the city to see if federal funding is available help remediate the airport property.

In a release, DND says:

Since 2017, we have taken concrete actions to address this issue, including:
– Conducting over 20 drinking water quality and environmental investigations
– Testing over 1,000 samples from drinking water, surface water, sewers, groundwater, sediment and soil
– Sampling the drinking water of 97 homes near the base
– Immediately informing affected residents of two wells with PFAS levels above Health Canada’s recommended values
– Providing affected residents with bottled water until their homes were connected to the municipal water supply
– Monitoring and resampling the drinking water of up to 49 homes quarterly
– Sending residents detailed reports on their quarterly water test results
– Providing regular updates to the community on our residential well testing, environmental monitoring, studies and next steps
– Working closely with the local health unit, city, and province to assess and manage PFAS impacts in the area
– Investing over $2 million to date in PFAS testing and prevention activities in North Bay

The release states:

“Results of ongoing tests for residential wells, the base, and municipal water supplies remain below Health Canada’s drinking water guidelines and screening values, which are established at levels to protect the health of Canadians. To ensure they remain safe, we will continue to test and monitor PFAS levels over the coming year.

Ongoing sampling at nearby creeks and Trout Lake also remains below federal guidelines for environmental protection, and we will continue to monitor these waterbodies over time. The Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks issued a fish consumption advisory for Lee’s Creek and Trout Lake in response to PFAS levels identified in fish. While consumption advisories are not considered a permanent solution, they help mitigate risks to human health. The results of ongoing tests will help us better understand the impacts of PFAS in the area, and our options to remediate and manage them.

We continue to work with the City of North Bay, North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks on this issue, and will provide the community with regular updates.

Residents with questions about DND’s water testing program can contact 22 Wing/CFB North Bay Public Affairs at 705-494-2011, ext. 2822. Health-related questions about water quality can be directed to the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit at 705-474-1400, ext. 5260. Information on federal drinking water guidelines and screening values for PFAS is available on Health Canada’s website.”

 

(File photo by station staff)

Filed under: 22 Wing CFB North Bay