Alberta officials will study well water to help determine if an oil extraction plant in the Cold Lake area is raising arsenic levels.
“Right now we don’t know what’s happening,” said Lew Skjonsby, director of environmental health inspection for the Lakeland Regional Health Authority. This week the district will begin a year-long study of up to 60 wells.
From the study Skjonsby also hopes trends will emerge to let people know if certain well depths are safer or if arsenic is linked to other minerals in well water.
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Some area residents say Imperial Oil’s plant is the reason various wells have arsenic levels well over the federal standard of 25 micrograms per litre. So far, tests in the Cold Lake area have revealed 11 sites in the area with levels over the standard and three that are consistently over. The highest recorded level was 70 mcg/L, said Skjonsby.
Bill Papson, who lives 10 kilometres southwest of Imperial’s operation, has well water that’s testing at 35 mcg/L and says he and his wife are concerned. He thinks Imperial’s operations that blast steam underground to liquefy tar for later recovery causes natural arsenic in the ground, to leech and infiltrate well water.
Five arsenic tests, that began about a year ago, show his levels are steadily increasing, he said.
“I feel they (Imperial Oil) are not being up front with us. They’ve contended all along that their operation is safe and they’ve only had a minimal impact in the area.
“All these minimal impacts have finally come into a major impact,” said Papson, who was an intervenor at last month’s Alberta Energy and Utilities Board hearing into Imperial’s plans for a $500-million plant expansion. After hearing evidence presented, the province ordered the study into arsenic levels.
Pius Rolheiser, spokesperson for Imperial Oil, said investigations so far show no possibility of the plant affecting arsenic levels. Research reveals arsenic levels are the same as before Imperial started large-scale operations and that wells far from the plant have similar levels to those close by, he said.
“It’s certainly our position that there is no connection,” said Rolheiser, adding the company is also concerned about the levels because of area residents and because it has more than 200 employees working in the region.
Health official Skjonsby said: “Any aspects of whether it’s being impacted by Imperial Oil hasn’t been proven to us to any place we could take action.
“I’ve heard lots of people say it’s happening and lots of suppositions. The possibility exists but it’s such a long shot that it’s very difficult to prove,” he said, adding tests from his district go to Alberta Health.
Residents concerned with the levels shouldn’t drink the water, said Skjonsby. He suggested they get water from other sources or buy treatment equipment.
“If somebody drinks it they’re not going to get tingly fingers or cancers or something like that,” said Skjonsby.
“But if you drink 1.8 litres a day every day for a lifetime it could have an impact,” he said, noting high levels of arsenic are thought to cause skin and organ cancers in some people.
Papson, who lives on an acreage between Cold Lake and Bonnyville, is retired and said he can’t afford the $6,000 he needs to clear his well of arsenic. He is looking into bottled water. He and his wife still want their country lifestyle and he estimates his property value is worth only half of what he paid.
Safer work practices
Although he wants Imperial Oil to remain in the area, he wants it to develop safer practices.
“I’ve said all along, since this started a year and a half ago, that I’m not trying to get Imperial Oil shut down. I don’t want them to leave the area. I think the people who have jobs should be able to enjoy their jobs and their lifestyle.
“But I would like to enjoy my lifestyle as well,” Papson said, adding the government should be taking a tougher stance.
“The Conservative ideology is ‘don’t bite the hand that feeds you’ and so long as they’re getting those petro dollars in they’re not going to try to do anything to disrupt it.”
Ryan Cromb, Alberta Environment spokesperson, said the department is studying the situation.
“The evidence we have isn’t conclusive but so far there is no evidence to show it’s being caused by Imperial’s activities.”
The energy board is expected to rule on Imperial’s expansion plans within the next five months. If the board gives Imperial Oil the go-ahead, expansion plans will likely begin between 2000 and 2002, said Rolheiser.
