Post Flood Sediment Sampling in High River

Transcription

1 Post Flood Sediment Sampling in High River Jan Quinlan, M.Sc., P.Ag. Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development WaterTech April 2014

2 Presentation at a Glance 1. The Back Story The Flood area, impact, perfect storm High River 2. The Real Presentation Sediment Sampling Program Results and Interpretation Next Steps 3. Questions

3 The Flood June 2013

4 Southern Alberta Floods Geographical Location Geographical Area of ~ 55,000 km 2 Total Population of ~ 1.6 million Both Urban and Rural Areas Federal and Provincial Jurisdictions Federal National Parks and three First Nations Local authorities and provincially managed improvement districts

5 CANMORE BANFF BLACK DIAMOND & TURNER VALLEY CALGARY OKOTOKS The Rivers Around Us HIGH RIVER NANTON MEDICINE HAT ***MAP NOT TO SCALE***

6 Weather Leading up to the Flood Difficult Prediction Early forecasts were for mm over 48 hours No significant changes in forecast until the rain started (Wed night - June 19) As the rain fell, flood advisories, watches and warnings were issued (Wed pm and Thurs June 20) Up to 300 mm in 24 hours in some locations

7 Weather Leading up to the Flood The Perfect Storm Extreme rainfall created by a cold low system that was essentially blocked by high pressure systems to the N and E Abundant moisture from the Gulf/Pacific Wind from the east push weather west against the mountains which blocked movement Unstable cold low air mass creating storm clouds Moisture at high elevations rain on snow Date of contour: June 20, 2013 Source: Environment Canada

8 And, very quickly our lives changed

9 Downtown Calgary Photo by Calgary Sun

10 Calgary Stampede Grounds

11 Trans-Canada Highway at Canmore

12 Canmore Townsite

13 Elbow River Bridge on Highway 66

14 High River

15 The 2013 Flood By the Numbers

16 The Flood in High River

17 CANMORE BANFF BLACK DIAMOND & TURNER VALLEY CALGARY OKOTOKS The Rivers Around Us HIGH RIVER NANTON MEDICINE HAT ***MAP NOT TO SCALE***

18 Precipitation and Flow Time Series

19 High River

20

21 High River Unprecedented Flooding

22 High River Unprecedented Flooding

23 High River Unprecedented Flooding

24 High River Unprecedented Flooding It s normal for us to drive through the parking lot but, to throw people in the hopper, that was weird

25 High River Unprecedented Flooding I haven t been carried like this since my wedding day. Photo by Lyle Aspinall

26 Sediment Sampling in Schoolyards in High River

27 Once the Flood Waters Receded Widespread Sediment Deposition

28 The Question Is the Sediment Harmful to the Kids? A number of schoolyards had sediment deposited Need to get kids back to school Need to site portable classrooms

29 High River Schoolyards: What to sample for? Looked at a number of other flooding event (Sandy, Katrina, Netherlands and UK) Talked to microbiologists, toxicologists and physicians Literature searches There was no How to even less information when it came to sediment

30 High River Schoolyards: Analytical Schedule Pathogens (all samples) Fecal coliforms, E. coli and Salmonella Salmonella, Fecal coliforms and E. coli are generally associated with feces/ fecal contamination, not specific to human or animals (warm blooded) High levels can cause gastroenteritis The town is in an agricultural area and the sewer system including lift stations were flooded

31 High River Schoolyards: Analytical Schedule Metals (30% of samples) Alberta Tier 1 (including arsenic, chromium, lead, and mercury) Associated with a number of industries including agriculture and oil and gas activities Depending on the metal, there can be acute or chronic human health concerns

32 High River Schoolyards: Analytical Schedule Petroleum Hydrocarbons (PHCs) (30% of samples) Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) Petroleum hydrocarbons fractions 1 through 4 (PHC F1-F4) Associated with oil and gas activities

33 High River Schoolyards: Analytical Schedule Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) (30% of samples) Includes carcinogenic PAHs, pyrene, naphthalene, anthracene, fluranthene and fluorene Byproduct of incomplete combustion Carcinogenic (cancer causing) Mutagenic (changes genetic material) Teratogenic (developmental abnormalities)

34 High River Schoolyards: Comparison Guidelines Alberta Tier 1 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines (2010) Metals, PHCs and PAHs Guidelines for Compost Quality (CCME 2005) Fecal coliforms and Salmonella Best Available Option

35 High River Schoolyards: Comparison Guidelines Alberta Tier 1 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines (2010) Metals, PHCs and PAHs Commercial land use Unrestricted access to the public including children (i.e. daycare or hospital) Fine-grained texture Human Health Pathways Direct contact Vapour inhalation Protection of a domestic use aquifer (DUA)

36 High River Schoolyards: Sediment Sampling Program Three schools selected for sampling Spitzee Elementary (affected) Notre Dame Collegiate (affected) Highwood High (unaffected)

37 High River Schoolyards: School Locations

38 High River Schoolyards: Spitzee Elementary School

39 High River Schoolyards: Notre Dame Collegiate

40 High River Schoolyards: Highwood High (unaffected)

41 High River Schoolyards: Sampling Locations Surficial sediment samples were collected from playground and other play areas where children were expected to have the highest potential to contact the sediment/soil. Additional sampling locations were selected in low, wet areas where sediment was concentrated. In total 35 samples were collected 20 samples from Spitzee 10 from Notre Dame 5 samples from Highwood High

42 High River Schoolyards: July 2013 Sampling Results Pathogens Salmonella (presence) Fecal Coliforms (1000 MPN/g) E. coli (no guideline) Spitzee X (1000, 2600) 12/20 12/20 Notre Dame X (1000) 5/10 5/10 Highwood (unaffected) X 1/5 1/5

43 High River Schoolyards: July 2013 Sampling Results Metals, PHC and PAHs no reported concentration greater than guidelines Metals PHCs PAHs Spitzee X X X Notre Dame X X X Highwood (unaffected) X X X

44 High River Schoolyards: Interpretation Focused on the Human Receptor Not looking for presence/absence Concentration of results (hot spots) Very high results Fecal Coliforms and E.coli While present in schoolyards it was also present in the unaffected areas May not be directly related to the flood Resample later as exposure to sunlight/drying should reduce numbers

45 Fact Sheet: Sediment Removal After Flooding Developed in conjunction with Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services Useful information of PPE and links to other sheets on safe play areas and gardens after flooding

46 Fact Sheet: Sediment Removal After Flooding

47 Fact Sheet: Sediment Removal After Flooding

48 High River Schoolyards: September 2013 Resampling Program Resampled affected school areas that had previously reported fecal coliforms and E.coli Spitzee 10 sites resampled (of 12 that reported values) garden box and sediment pile removed Notre Dame 2 sites resampled (of 5 that reported values) portable siting/stripping prevented sampling

49 High River Schoolyards: September 2013 Results Pathogens Fecal Coliforms E. coli > G/L Spitzee 8/10 2/10 0 Notre Dame 1/2 2/2 0

50 High River Schoolyards: September 2013 Interpretation Of the 12 samples collected, 9 reported lower values for fecal coliforms None exceeded comparison guidelines Some areas pathogen numbers remained elevated, particularly in lower shaded areas or areas that retained more floodwater and sediment.

51 The Question Is the Sediment Harmful to the Kids? Likely not a significant increase in risk versus unaffected areas Pathogens persistence in flood associated sediment was demonstrated. Good sense prevails Wash hands Follow the Fact Sheet

52 High River Schoolyards: Next Steps Planning a resampling program for Spring/Summer 2014 Address ongoing residences concerns over public spaces All information will be available on ESRD website in the Flood 2013 section

53 Questions?

54 If time permits _detailpage&v=6jrmz6dgoeq