High arsenic levels found in lake near N.B. power plant
Last Updated: Monday, November 19, 2007 | 2:46 PM AT
CBC News
Tests of water near the Grand Lake power plant in central New Brunswick show high arsenic levels.
The provincial government recently released test results from areas around the NB Power plant to the Conservation Council of New Brunswick.
The arsenic percentages were the highest where the plant's waste-water lagoon discharges into the lake, said Inka Milewski, science adviser with the council.
"The arsenic levels were 60 times above the national guidelines for arsenic in fresh water," Milewski said.
Arsenic levels in water near the discharge area were 317 micrograms per litre, while the federal limit for fresh water is five micrograms.
Milewski said her organization will be calling on Environment Minister Roland Haché to issue an order to stop the discharge from the plant's waste-water ditch.
"This is a power plant that has been discharging into the lake for 75 years," said Milewski. "The province simply needs to protect the public and the environment and issue this order and have it cleaned up."
The council would also like to see the government release the results of tests carried out on fish in the lake and from 24 private wells in the area, said Milewski.
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