Brock University study finds oil drilling wastes leaking into Northern lakes

A new study says melting permafrost could be allowing oil drilling wastes to leak into northern lakes.

The study from Brock University set out to test if pits used to dispose of such wastes by using permafrost to freeze them in place were still working.

There are more than 150 such sumps in the Mackenzie Delta, where climate change has raised the temperature of the permafrost by an average of two degrees Celsius.

Scientists found about eight of the 20 lakes with nearby sumps had elevated levels of salts associated with drilling waste.

Some of those levels were high enough to change the lake’s plant and animal life.

Co-author Joshua Thienpont (THEEN-pont) says some of those disposal sumps probably weren’t built well in the first place.

But he says the gradual melting of permafrost in the region is likely allowing the chemicals to leach into the environment.

He says the research could have important lessons for industry as energy exploration expands in the Northwest Territories.