Cloudy Substance Cecelia Creek
Last updated on July 18, 2024Disclaimer:
- Information provided is based on reports received by Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR)
- Information provided is considered to be current at the time of posting, but is subject to change
Incident description
| Incident Date | July 04, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Name | DGIR: 242780 |
| Source | Unknown |
| Nearest Community | Victoria, B.C. |
| Spilled Content | Unknown |
| Who is involved | Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV), Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA), First Nation Health Authority (FNHA), Health Emergency Management BC (HEMBC), Conservations Officer Service (COS), City of Victoria, Esquimalt First Nation, Songhees First Nation, District of Saanich. |
Response phase details
The responsible person or spiller is legally required to clean-up or manage the clean-up of a spill.
In incidents where the responsible person is unknown, unable or unwilling to manage the cleanup, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV) may assume the role.
The updates below reflect the ministry’s oversight of the spillers’ actions. Details describe the spill response phase only and not the complete lifecycle of the spill. Visit the 'More information' page for other reports.
Updates are in reverse chronological order with the most recent at the top.
Industry-specific language may be explained in the Glossary of Terms (PDF, 106KB).
Most recent updates
July 04
On July 4th, initial reports came in of an unidentified cloudy substance entering Cecelia Creek. The unidentified substance stopped discharging to Cecelie Creek later that same day. It was believed to be a one-time discharge with no known source.
July 08
A second report of the unidentified cloudy substance in Cecelia Creek was received. City of Victoria identified that this was a reoccurring event and was attempting to locate the source
July 16
Additional reports of the unknown substance in Cecelia Creek received. An Environmental Emergency Response Officer (EERO) attended the site with City of Victoria staff. Creek was running clear at this time but city staff later in the day reported that the substance was discharging into the creek again.
The Conservation Office Service and the compliance and enforcement section of ECCC have been notified. The Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA), Health Emergency Management BC (HEMBC), the First Nations Health Authority and impacted First Nations have been notified as well.
July 17
As of this morning, the creek is running clear. It is still unknown what the substance is or where the source is. City crews and District of Saanich staff continue to attempt to locate the source in addition to monitoring Cecelia Creek for further discharges.