Golfing guy
Active Member
Wonder if they could put a membrane over the pit one the hole has been dug for the underground parking? This would stop the creosote from seeping up , but would it stop water from above seeping back into the ground?
Westmount Development | 20m | 6s | Anthem | Integra Architecture
- Thread starter Surrealplaces
- Start date
Nimbus
Active Member
Can you mitigate creosote like radon? Pipes and venting to the outside air in a safe location?
CalgaryTiger
Senior Member
I found a great article from CityTV that actually goes into the details we were looking for, great work by their reporter Lauryn Heintz for asking the real questions.
calgary.citynews.ca
Excuse me posting the whole section but it is good to know...
Creosote has been a concern for people living in Calgary’s Hillhurst community for years and now, some residents are speaking out against a proposed townhouse development in the area.
Creosote, a mixture of 200 chemicals, is formed when tars, wood, and fossil fuel are burned. It’s typically used in preservatives and antiseptics.
From 1924 to 1962, a wood treatment plant ran in downtown Calgary on the south side of the Bow River. It used creosote to preserve wood products such as railway ties and power poles.
Over time, the chemicals from the plant made their way into the Bow River and communities on the north side of the Bow River. Monitoring of vapour and groundwater by the province showed contamination in the neighbourhood.
In 1995, a containment wall and groundwater collection system was built on the south bank of the Bow River to prevent ongoing migration. The City of Calgary has been managing and operating the containment system since 1997.
The province, Alberta Health Services, and the City of Calgary have monitored health risks for the communities on the north side of the Bow River since 2004. Groundwater and soil vapour monitoring results during a five-year monitoring program that ran from 2017 to 2021 showed no risk to human health, according to the province.
The report says members of North Bow Communities are unlikely to be exposed to creosote, but vapour inhalation in areas without ventilation, like basements, may be possible if homes are close to creosote contamination.
Health risks also depend on the amount, duration, and frequence of exposure. The most common risks are respiratory irritation from breathing in creosote vapour, and skin damage from long-term skin or air contact. Long-term exposure, especially through continued direct-skin contact, can result in some cancers.
Tests also indicate the potential of creosote in areas of Hillhurst doesn’t impact drinking water, as it comes from Calgary Water Services and not groundwater sources.
In summary, if you live in Hillhurst, make sure your basement is well ventilated. Also I wonder where this containment wall and groundwater collection system is...
Potential NW Calgary housing development revives creosote talks
Some West Hillhurst residents are speaking out against a proposed townhouse development in an area familiar with creosote.
calgary.citynews.ca
Excuse me posting the whole section but it is good to know...
Creosote has been a concern for people living in Calgary’s Hillhurst community for years and now, some residents are speaking out against a proposed townhouse development in the area.
Creosote, a mixture of 200 chemicals, is formed when tars, wood, and fossil fuel are burned. It’s typically used in preservatives and antiseptics.
From 1924 to 1962, a wood treatment plant ran in downtown Calgary on the south side of the Bow River. It used creosote to preserve wood products such as railway ties and power poles.
Over time, the chemicals from the plant made their way into the Bow River and communities on the north side of the Bow River. Monitoring of vapour and groundwater by the province showed contamination in the neighbourhood.
In 1995, a containment wall and groundwater collection system was built on the south bank of the Bow River to prevent ongoing migration. The City of Calgary has been managing and operating the containment system since 1997.
The province, Alberta Health Services, and the City of Calgary have monitored health risks for the communities on the north side of the Bow River since 2004. Groundwater and soil vapour monitoring results during a five-year monitoring program that ran from 2017 to 2021 showed no risk to human health, according to the province.
The report says members of North Bow Communities are unlikely to be exposed to creosote, but vapour inhalation in areas without ventilation, like basements, may be possible if homes are close to creosote contamination.
Health risks also depend on the amount, duration, and frequence of exposure. The most common risks are respiratory irritation from breathing in creosote vapour, and skin damage from long-term skin or air contact. Long-term exposure, especially through continued direct-skin contact, can result in some cancers.
Tests also indicate the potential of creosote in areas of Hillhurst doesn’t impact drinking water, as it comes from Calgary Water Services and not groundwater sources.
In summary, if you live in Hillhurst, make sure your basement is well ventilated. Also I wonder where this containment wall and groundwater collection system is...
Mountain Man
Senior Member
I think the creosote is a heavy oil, so it sinks in water, this is why its at bedrock. Again, this is based on the few things I've read about it, don't have intimate knowledge.
The containment wall and water collection system are located here, just east of the Pumphouse Theater.
CalgaryTiger
Senior Member
Creosote, a mixture of 200 chemicals, is formed when tars, wood, and fossil fuel are burned. It’s typically used in preservatives and antiseptics.
Mountain Man
Senior Member
If you read the CBC interview that I posted yesterday the guy says it's an oil and is heavier than water, that's why it went under the river.
trtcttc
Senior Member
It's not as volatile as radon, so typically the concern is around groundwater and soil and inhalation is not as common unless there's major issues with the foundation of the home. If creosote vapour was going to come through the basement, there's probably lots of other water/vapour related issue already.
ScubaRoomba
New Member
Public Hearing online tomorrow evening on the risk management plan. Registration here: https://1706westmount.com/
Current plan has construction starting Winter 2026
Current plan has construction starting Winter 2026
whatchyyc
Active Member
Calgary residents concerned new development could release underground toxins
A new development in the Calgary neighbourhoods of Sunnyside and West Hillhurst have residents concerned over chemical toxins underground.
calgary.citynews.ca
Nimbus
Active Member
How much you wanna bet the folks worried about those toxins go out in terrible wildfire smoke air quality with no PPE?
Mountain Man
Senior Member
"They’re going to dig down into the creosote laden earth to build a very large development that we also feel doesn’t fit the neighbourhood" Kind of sums up the issue. They don't like the development and are using this as an argument. If an environmental assessment has deemed it safe to proceed, then it should be fine.
I definitely welcome any discussion of creosote as this needs to be figured out one day...
I definitely welcome any discussion of creosote as this needs to be figured out one day...
CalgaryTiger
Senior Member
Creosote remediation, especially south of the river will be continuously put off for generations to come. The bill is simply too large for the benefit. As long as there's developable land downtown it will languish.
trtcttc
Senior Member
The problem is there’s been no study since 2022, and nothing as part of the development.
Nostromos
New Member
That's a big part of the neighbourhood concern, it is dangerous enough that they are digging into it then sub slab depressurizing so creosote vapors do not enter the building therefor making it safe for residents. The neighbourhood's concern is that they are venting it upwind of a playground. This is all reminiscent of Lynnview in SE calgary.
The parkade will be 3m deep but excavation will be down to 5m. Anthem has not published their risk mitigation plan or shared much information of how it will be monitored other than "trust us".
Golfing guy
Active Member
Just a question to you since you seem to be one who lives in that area. Was there the same outburst and objection to all the infills that were built just west of this site in the last decade(s)? They seem to have basements and probably went down a similar distance for the foundations. Were there special requirements for those developments?
As an outsider and no skin in the game a little bit of hypocrisy might be at play here???