Booms set up in Killarney Channel after dump truck fell in water December 7/15; Photo Credit: Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada Twitter @DFO_Central
Booms set up in Killarney Channel after dump truck fell in water December 7/15;
Photo Credit: Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada Twitter @DFO_Central

By Angela Gemmill

The Canadian Coast Guard is the lead agency looking after the situation in the Killarney Channel, after a dump truck fell off a barge and sunk Monday.

The vehicle -which was hauling limestone- remains submerged.

Ministry of Environment Media Rep, Kate Jordan, says investigators are worried about the 450-litres of fluids from the vehicle, which may have got into the water.

Booms have been set up to contain any contaminates and prevent hydro carbon fluids or gasoline, from moving downstream.

Jordan was unable to say when the truck would be removed from the channel, but says a plan is in the works to do that.

The intake has been shut down at the town of Killarney municipal water system, as a precaution…and residents are asked to conserve water.

The drinking water advisory remains in effect for only for those who draw from the Killarney Channel.