THUNDER BAY — The public is being cautioned against consumption of water or fish from the Kaministiquia River downstream of the Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper mill's discharge point near the Highway 61 bridge.
Due to contamination from the mill's effluent, Fort William First Nation issued a "precautionary advisory" imploring community members not to drink river water or use it for cooking bathing or washing.
Officials also caution against bathing or wading in the affected section of river or eating fish caught there.
The advisory also recommends against allowing pets and livestock to drink or enter the water.
Until water sampling and lab results confirm the water is safe for use, the First Nation will keep its advisory in place.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit is also advising against eating fish from the Kaministiquia River until more is known about the situation "out of an abundance of caution."
That recommendation comes as a result of their consultations with the Ministry of Natural Resources, according to a statement to Newswatch on Friday.
According to the health unit, no risks to municipal water or public beaches have been identified and public health officials are, therefore, not directly involved in the response to the effluent spill.
They encourage the public to contact the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for information about the spill or response efforts.
The mill has been ordered to stop discharging effluent into the river.
