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Raw sewage leaks into Vancouver’s False Creek but Dragon Boat Festival to go ahead

Click to play video: 'How will Olympic Village sewer line break impact Dragon Boat Festival?'
How will Olympic Village sewer line break impact Dragon Boat Festival?
Some of the sewage spill has made its way into False Creek, threatening this weekend's Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival, but as Emily Lazatin reports, the show will go on.

Repairs on a broken sewer main continue on Thursday in Vancouver’s Olympic Village.

Lorne Carter with Metro Vancouver said officials weren’t yet sure how much sewage was released from the pipe, which runs under 2nd and 1st avenues at Columbia Street. The leak started at about 5 a.m. and the regional district was notified around 8 a.m.

Carter added that the pipe has now been isolated and shut off so crews are in the clean-up stage.

Click to play video: 'Raw sewage pours into streets of Vancouver’s Olympic Village after sewer line break'
Raw sewage pours into streets of Vancouver’s Olympic Village after sewer line break

The raw sewage covered the road and also flowed into False Creek.

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“There is a lot of factors that dictate how quickly the sewage could dissipate,” Carter said regarding the sewage that spilled into the creek.

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“It’s going to be very difficult to figure out how much flow actually came out.”

Carter added that the sewage pipe was constructed in 2000 and it is possible the break came from a defective piece.

The Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival, scheduled for this weekend, will go ahead as scheduled, officials confirmed.

Everyone should take precautions if boating in False Creek, according to Dr. Michael Schwandt with Vancouver Coastal Health, including washing their hands, showering thoroughly and wearing protective clothing and gear.

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In a statement, Vancouver Coastal Health Public Health said members of the public should not go in or near raw sewage.

An environmental health officer is onsite to assess potential health impacts and the affected area has been cordoned off, including Habitat Island.

No Public Health-inspected facilities such as restaurants have been found to be contaminated, according to VCH.

“Primary contact recreational water activities (e.g. swimming) are not recommended in False Creek at any time. Secondary contact activities (e.g. boating) can proceed. In short, a high degree of contamination is always assumed in False Creek,” the statement read.

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