Water Test Results on Polluted Creeks are 240,000 x Over the Normal Limit

Members of the community had water tests done on April 25th, 2016 after two very polluted tributaries were discovered by residents in Bradner on April 20th. Samples were taken from one of the two polluted tributaries just south of 58th Ave. Delfresh Mushroom Farms and H.Q. Mushroom Farm has been fined for the pollution. The test results are absolutely disgusting... and off the charts - and NONE of us in Bradner have been warned.

A neighbour affected by the pollution is outraged "Coliform counts in raw sewage are about 170.  The creek samples came in at 240,000.  E-Coli in raw sewage - about 1,300.  The creek?  100,000!  BOD5 in raw sewage is 230.  The creek is at 537.  Now take a close look at the hydrogen sulfide levels.  The EPA save level is .00000014 but the creek samples are 2.8, or 20 million times higher.  In marine environments the highest safe level for ammonia - NH4 - is .4  Our creek is at .75, or about double the upper limit."

This is what was found...

Total Coliform - should be 1/100ml

• 240,000/100ml - two-hundred-forty-thousand per one-hundred millilitres! 240,000 times normal detection limit.

Ecoli - should be 1/100ml

• 100,000/100ml - one-hundred thousand per 100ml... 100,000 times normal detection limit.

Fecal Coliform - should be 1/100ml

• 83,000/100ml - eighty-three-thousand per 100ml.... 83,000 times normal detection limit.

Biochemical Oxygen - milligrams per litre should be no more than 4 mg/L

• 537 mg/L - 533 mg/L over the limit!

Sulphide - milligrams per litre should be no more than 0.002 mg/L

• 2.6 mg/L - 1,300 times more than the detection limit.....!

​Ammonia - N - should be no more than 0.01 mg/L

• 0.75 - 75x more than normal

​Hydrogen Sulphide 

• Total detected 2.8 mg/L (Hydrogen sulphide is a chemical compound. It is a colourless gas with the characteristic foul odour of rotten eggs; it is heavier than air, very poisonous, corrosive, flammable and explosive)

​Total Suspended Solids - 2 mg/L is normal range

• 416 mg/L - that's four-hundred-fourteen times the limit

Beach warnings in Vancouver post swimming closures at 200 per/100 ml for Ecoli and 1,000 per/100ml for Fecal Coliforms. These lab results show numbers in the 240,000 and 100,000 per/100ml.

After an article reported on the discovery of two massively polluted tributaries in Bradner that feed into both salmon bearing Bruff (Bradner) and Beaver (Nathan) Creeks, it was found that the creeks run through 18 properties in Bradner from the source until the water crosses the Abbotsford/Langley border. Many more properties are affected in the Township of Langley.

Because of the humongous bacterial growths, it is apparent to waterway experts that this pollution has been pumping into the creeks for quite some time. It is very disturbing and has grave impacts on wild life, including plants, fish and other species impacted by this serious pollution. It is also a very serious threat to human health.
​
This tributary of Bruff/Bradner and Nathan/Beaver Creek flows through Abbotsford into Langley and ends up in the Fraser River. It is a tributary of the creek that runs along the dyke at 88 Ave/River Rd just east of 264 St... the one that many dogs run in and out of before climbing into their owner's cars.

The City of Abbotsford has issued a fine of $1,500 against two mushroom companies for polluting the streams, but the community is calling for immediate action to be taken.

Nicole MacDonald, Environment Coordinator at the City of Abbotsford said "the city found pollution on April 6th and 7th, 2016", but no one here in Bradner was warned, no clean up crews have been seen and every authority possible has been contacted toss the 'ball' at each other, citing the issue is outside their jurisdiction. 

An article by the CBC, said representatives from BC's Ministry of Environment also visited the site and stated, "The facility was verbally directed to cease all discharge by ministry staff and a pollution abatement order is currently being considered". While the community of Bradner waits on a ticking-time bomb, seriously considering... and questioning... will someone die of Ecoli poising before anything is actually DONE?  

---

​Read More...

Cease & Desist Order Issued on Mushroom Composting Facility

Massive Pollution Found in Two Bradner Tributaries

Mushroom farms fined for mess in Abbotsford creeks

Mushroom farm fined, An Abbotsford-based mushroom farm has been found guilty of polluting a creek, and fined $90,000

Mushroom farming business fined $90,000 and ordered to carry out restorative work

Cause of huge B.C. mushroom farm fire accidental

Abbotsford mushroom farms fined for dumping toxins - Two Abbotsford mushroom farms have been hit with fines totalling $90,000 after they were caught dumping toxic waste into and near a salmon-bearing stream