The cleanup of Bowker Creek formally fell to Amica Jubilee House on July 19.
The seniors residence, which took responsibility for a spill that saw diesel flow from its rooftop generator into the urban waterway earlier in July, has hired Thurber Engineering, Nucor Environmental Services and 30 Forensic Engineering to head cleanup and remediation efforts.
Previously, the District of Oak Bay and the City of Victoria had been in charge of replacing booms and sorbent pads used to contain the spill and prevent it from reaching the ocean.
“Our testing showed this system was working, so ... we continued with this system,” said Liam Brown, the general manager of Amica Jubilee House. “It involves regular monitoring of the booms and pads for diesel build up and replacement of these booms and pads as needed. This is the safest way to remove the diesel without impacting the environment around the creek."
City of Victoria media spokesperson Colleen Mycroft explained that “while significant product has been removed, cleanup and monitoring are ongoing.”
She said there is currently no fixed end date. “The long-term remediation plan is still being developed and will adapt based on monitoring results and environmental assessments.”
To date, Amica doesn't know how much diesel flowed into the creek, but it has been working with an engineering firm to find out.
As for the source of the leak, Brown noted the residence has made moves to mend it.
“We have been working non-stop to repair the roof and to understand the cause of the leak to ensure it does not happen again,” he said.
Ian Graeme, the co-chair of Friends of Bowker Creek Society – a non-profit dedicated to the restoration and enhancement of the waterway – said this has been “the most serious spill incident over at least the past 25 years.”
