Look closely to see the colours of oil on the surface of the water.
On February 6, at approximately 2:45 p.m., a hatchery volunteer noticed oil on the surface of the water by Hoy Creek Hatchery.
The oil was reported to the City of Coquitlam by Hoy/Scott Watershed Society.
The City went out to investigate and reported back to the Society that the source was found by Douglas College staff and drainage crews were deployed.
The City later provided further details:
“Our sewer/drainage crew was working with facility staff from Douglas College yesterday afternoon/evening and reported that multiple private side catch basins (CB) were affected and had fuel/oil leaking into it. Apparently, it was caused by a leak from a dump truck. Absorbent pads were placed at these CBs to control the spill, and a vactor truck was called in to remove the oil from the system. It sounds like they found some oil left in some of the private CBs as well as one public CB. The vactor truck was at Douglas College the day of the spill vactoring out whatever was left in the City-side CB.
The Society was advised that City staff will also check some of the private side CBs to see if there is a need to have those vactored.”
The public is urged to be mindful of storm drains, which are meant for rainwater only, and are not for refuse disposal. Individuals observing a dumping or a fish kill in our streams, or the presence of any other possible pollutants are encouraged to immediately report the event to the authorities. Contact numbers are provided on our website’s contact page.
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