Turner Valley Water quality still a concern

By Pamela Roth
Staff Reporter

Foothills-Rocky View MLA Ted Morton found out last Tuesday the damage caused by June’s floods is still a hot issue among residents in the Turner Valley area.
More than 100 people packed the Flare ‘n’ Derrick community hall to hear what Morton had to say about current affairs the province is facing, such as same-sex marriage, Klein’s third-way health initiatives, and the equalization of Alberta’s transfer payments.
But it was during question period that issues pertaining to the flood, water quality and the Turner Valley gas plant, flared up like a sour gas well.
“If people think it’s a concern, then obviously from my point of view, it’s a problem,” said Morton, who wasn’t surprised that the gas plant was at the top of the list of concerns.
“I made a promise that I would work with the Mayor to arrange an open house with Alberta Environment to review all of their water testing before, during and after the flood both upstream and downstream from the plant. I think that will ease some of the fears and concerns that people have.”
For the past month, the issue has graced the headlines of both local and city newspapers on a regular basis.
The latest rash of attention began in early August when a local resident noticed an orange sludge with a petrochemical odour seeping into the Sheep River near the gas plant.
Later, test results from Aug. 12 revealed that the orange sludge was bacteria and that the colour is caused by iron and manganese, natural substances found in the ground. Results also showed a low level of hydrocarbons in the spring.
Alberta Environment officials said that the low level of hydrocarbons found in a spring near the gas plant isn’t a cause for concern since they aren’t affecting a source for drinking water.
Since then, other residents have picked up other foul-smelling water near the gas plant.
Black Diamond business owner Linda Abrams collected a sample of the water and presented it to Okotoks and Black Diamond town council, along with Morton.
“It’s coming from underground, that’s what I think is the most disturbing part,” said Abrams at an earlier Black Diamond town council meeting. “Communities need that water. When this stuff is obviously flowing towards the river, that is a big concern.”
Morton assured town residents that the Alberta government is planning to move ahead with the installation of a $3-million containment system next summer.
That project is expected to be complete by the fall of 2006.
Work is also set to begin in early September to re-establish the river diversion project at the gas plant, which was originally done to prevent bank erosion, but was damaged, by June floods.
In addition, the Turner Valley Gas Plant for a Safe, Historic Site committee would like to see sediment samples conducted during the re-establishment of the river diversion and testing begin for methyl mercury and amines.
As of yet there have been no test results confirming contaminants are entering the river from the site.
“I think the flood happening may have in a certain sense acted like a catalyst for getting the province’s attention,” said Morton, who has not yet set a date for the open house. “With that kind of investment, I think we will proceed to deal with the plant itself. The question that’s going to have to be decided by the townspeople is whether they want to keep the plant in its current state or have less of the old plant and more of an interpretive centre.”