Squamish Oceanfront Development Corporation

The former heavy industrial uses on the Oceanfront left very low trace amounts of mercury in the groundwater in a small area at the south end of the peninsula.  This has been largely remediated but will continually have to be treated by a small water treatment pump.  This pump brings up groundwater, removes small trace amounts of mercury and then pumps the clean water back into the ground.  This will go on for the foreseeable future because mercury doesn't dilute or dissipate through other natural processes.  This does not mean that the land or sea water above the subterranean groundwater is not safe to use. The SODC is currently managing a number of different remediation and treatment designs, together with ongoing monitoring, to ensure that the land is safe for use.  These tactics include the current groundwater scrubbing that allows for safe recreational use and will develop into capping and physical and barrier separation that will ensure safety for other permanent uses and improve water and land habitat.