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All but 5 samples from Sask. oil spill meet guidelines for drinking water

Aug 3, 2016 | 12:34 PM

Husky Energy has released the findings of water samples taken from the North Saskatchewan River showing that the vast majority are within guidelines for drinking water.

There were 1000 samples taken at 60 locations starting from the spill site and going downstream 385 kilometres to Prince Albert. The samples were taken at various depths, including the top of the water and down to the bottom. The sheen and foam is also being tested.

Results from 900 of those samples show the primary indicators of oil exceeded acceptable drinking water guidelines in five samples within a 20 km radius of the spill site. It is not to say that the other 895 samples don’t show trace amounts of the oil from the spill, but the amount does not exceed safe drinking water guidelines.

Oil indicators include: enzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, xylenes (BTEX), total hydrocarbon fractions (F1-F4) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.