‘I share your concerns’: Councillor addresses chemical runoff in Mimico, Humber creeks

A Toronto city councillor has addressed the chemical runoff affecting two creeks in Etobicoke, saying the heavy rain experienced in the last 24 hours has temporarily breached containment while sharing the concern of residents.

A six-alarm fire at an Etobicoke industrial building one week ago led to chemical spillage in Mimico Creek and Humber Creek. While crews were able to tend to the significant fire at Brenntag Canada, a chemical distribution company, runoff has impacted the local waterways and resulted in the deaths and subsequent rescues of various animals and birds, including ducks and beavers.

City councillor Amber Morley of Etobicoke-Lakeshore shared an update on Friday, noting that GFL — the contracted cleanup crew — is re-establishing the containment, and the Ministry of the Environment and the Spills Action Centre are aware and responding. This is due to heavy rain that hit Toronto and the GTA overnight on Thursday into Friday.

“GFL and Toronto Water continue to work to clean up Mimico and Humber Creek, and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority will continue sampling on the upstream and downstream Mimico site locations throughout the weekend and monitoring any impact to the watercourse or resident wildlife.”

A government spokesperson told CityNews this week that the ministry has not observed any impacts to the Humber River or Lake Ontario from the spill and does not anticipate any effects on the municipal drinking water supply.

Councillor shares concern of residents

Toronto Wildlife Centre (TWC) rescue teams were on the scene at the creek last Saturday to assist wildlife impacted by the presence of chemicals in the water, telling CityNews between 40 and 50 ducks may have been affected by the spill. In an update on Monday, the wildlife centre said its team captured 49 ducks in Mimico Creek.

Councillor Morley acknowledged that many locals have reached out since the fire at Brenntag Canada.

Mimico Creek in Etobicoke after an industrial fire on Friday, August 11, 2023. Photo: Craig Strathy/CityNews submission.

“This week, residents have been reaching out to my office to share questions and concerns about runoff into Mimico Creek from the industrial fire in North Etobicoke and the impacts on local wildlife. I share your concerns and desire to see the spill cleaned up as soon as possible, and I’ve reached out to Toronto Water and TRCA,” she said.

Toronto Water also shared an update on Friday, stating that the situation is “steadily improving” and work is underway to contain the spill in multiple locations.

RELATED: Chemicals from Etobicoke industrial fire spill over into creek, affecting wildlife

“The company where the fire took place has hired cleanup crews who have been working with City staff and staff from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) and Environment Canada to contain the spill and remove as much material as possible quickly to restore the waterways,” a Toronto Water spokesperson said through Morley.

The City of Toronto says it’s aware of ducks and other wild birds along the sides of the creek affected by the runoff.

“The City has attended the site and connected with the Toronto Wildlife Centre and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. TWC and the Ministry are addressing the issue, and if needed, the City remains ready to assist.”

On Wednesday, the TWC confirmed with CityNews that a young beaver, initially thought to be a rare river otter, had perished due to runoff.

Nathalie Karvonen, Executive Director at the TWC, said its Enforcement Branch of Environment and Climate Change Canada is collecting dead bodies and having them necropsied.

TRCA is utilizing autosamplers along Mimico Creek to sample the water every hour for a 42-hour period. An official said samples will be collected at two locations along Mimico Creek.

After 42 hours, these samples will be collected and sent to a lab for analysis.