The Gorge Swim Fest is being cancelled because of an apparent sewage spill that Esquimalt is investigating.
Organizer Jack Meredith with the Gorge Swim Fest Society says some organizers of the event noticed some sort of pollutants at Gorge Creek in the area of Kinsman Park on Saturday.
“It appeared to be a major kind of spill that went in that creek and could have made its way in the waterway. We are just speculating but we want to be overly cautious. “
Meredith says it would be in poor taste, celebrating the clean way in the Gorge Waterway with an event when there might have been a recent spill.
Esquimalt public works says it is investigating a spill into the Gorge. Crews haven't confirmed its sewage but noted that it does smell that way.
“Last night public works crews deployed a number of booms to try and contain whatever the substance was,” said Esquimalt Public Works Engineer Jeff Miller. “It does have a sewage smell to it but we aren’t seeing any telltale signs that it is sewage like toilet paper.”
Island Health has reportedly been notified and they have come down to the creek to take some water samples.
The Swim Fest Society is hoping to reschedule the event for a later date this weekend.