BANFF – A significant amount of glycol – which can be extremely toxic to fish – accidentally leaked from Banff’s Mineral Springs Hospital into a drain that leads to a wetland area of Forty Mile Creek connecting to the Bow River.
Parks Canada investigated and determined approximately 2,132 litres of a 50/50 water-glycol solution – about 832 litres of pure glycol – entered a storm drain from the hospital parking lot on June 24 during a project upgrade to the hospital’s internal HVAC system.
Officials say testing at five sample sites on June 29 confirmed that glycol concentrations had been reduced to levels below the guidelines for ensuring the safety of human health set by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME).
“Parks Canada does not expect significant adverse effects to fishes and aquatic life because the contamination was localized, short-term, and reversible,” said Kelly Veillette, public relations and communications officer for Banff National Park.
Mineral Springs Hospital hired a contractor from Calgary, who promptly carried out containment and clean up efforts, including pumping and flushing the storm sewer catchment.
There was also absorbent deployed on the liquid and a small boom around the storm drain in the parking lot.
Janet Laurie, communications manager for Covenant Health, said a contractor working on a rental air handling unit noted a hose failure that resulted in a glycol leak, which entered a manhole in the north parking lot of the hospital on the morning of June 24.
"The contractor shut down the unit and contacted a specialized clean up crew from Calgary to address contamination on walls, rental equipment and the parking lot,” she said.
”Site administration contacted Banff Fire Department, Town of Banff Water Works and Parks Canada immediately to make them aware of the leak and to assess the potential impact on watersheds, including Forty Mile Creek.”
Jason Darrah, director of communications for the Town of Banff, said this was a private property issue managed by Mineral Springs Hospital contractors.
“The Town’s absorbent boom at the storm outfall at the end of Wolf Street is in place always, in case of unplanned releases, but the hospital’s private storm system is connected to their own main that discharges farther north into 40 Mile Creek,” he said in an email.
The Outlook asked Parks Canada if charges have been laid or are expected to be laid. Veillette said: "Given the investigation is still underway, it’s too soon to comment."
