Updated statement - Toxic chemical spillage – 4pm, 14 August 2024

Our priority is the safety of our residents and canal users. Local, regional and national agencies are working together to minimise the potential risk to health.

The West Midlands Local Resilience Forum is treating the chemical spillage into a canal in Walsall as a major incident, with a multi-agency response (see background notes).

The spillage, which includes sodium cyanide has gone into the canal in Walsall and as a precautionary measure, we are asking the public to avoid an extended area of the canal and towpaths from the Walsall lock flight to the lock flights at Rushall/Ryders Green and Perry Barr (see map).

Testing of the canal water is underway and is being managed by the Environment Agency.

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.

The source of the spillage has been identified and stopped and an investigation is underway into its cause.

A spokesperson from the Canal & River Trust said, “The best way to try and control and prevent the spread of the pollution is to contain it. Therefore, the Canal & River Trust has installed a temporary dam across the canal i.e. to put a physical barrier blocking off the contaminated section.

“The public are still asked to continue to avoid the extended area of the canal and towpaths from the Walsall lock flight to the lock flights at Rushall/Ryders Green and Perry Barr (see map) while continued testing is carried out by the Environment Agency.”

Background

Previous statements from 13/08: Update – Toxic chemical spillage – 5pm 13 August 2024 | Walsall Council

This is a multi-agency response including:

• Environment Agency
• UKHSA
• Walsall and Sandwell councils
• WM Police
• WM Fire
• WMAS
• Canal & River Trust
• Severn Trent Water