Tests continuing as source of Walsall chemical spill identified
A major incident was declared on Tuesday.
Experts from the Environment Agency are continuing to test water in a canal in Walsall, after a toxic chemical spill.
Walsall Council said sodium cyanide had ended up in the waterway, after a major incident was declared on Tuesday.
The source of the spillage has now been identified. The Environment Agency confirmed it came from a nearby metal plating firm.
Mark Lidderth, West Midlands Director at the Environment Agency, said: "We have identified a potential infrastructure failure at the site, but what we are doing is a thorough investigation to understand how that happened.
"If we find any wrongdoing in that case, then we will utilise all our regulatory powers and look at what enforcement we will take against the operator because this pollution is unacceptable."
The council warned that there is a potential risk to anyone who has direct contact with the water in the affected area from Walsall towards Rushall, Ryders Green and Perry Barr.
People are being urged to avoid these areas of the 12-mile stretch of canal and towpaths.
In an update on Wednesday afternoon (14 August), Walsall Council said: "Sodium Cyanide dissolves in water and can have serious adverse health effects for those who come into direct physical contact with it.
"There is a potential serious risk to health if you or your pets are exposed (direct physical contact with the water) in the affected stretch of the canal.
"Anyone who has been exposed (direct physical contact) along the affected stretch of canal water and is feeling unwell, should seek health advice via 111 or 999 in an emergency."
West Midlands Police and Fire services, the Canal and Rivers Trust, and Severn Trent Water are also part of the multi-agency response.
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