Canal has 'improved' following cyanide spill

A major incident was declared after sodium cyanide and other chemicals leaked into a canal in Walsall 12 August

The levels of cyanide in a Walsall canal impacted by a major chemical spill have "improved", according to the organisation leading the clean-up operation.

About 4,000 litres (879 gallons) of sodium cyanide and other chemicals leaked into the canal on 12 August, closing a 12-mile stretch of the waterway and killing thousands of fish.

A clean-up operation by the Canal and River Trust (CRT) is underway, after it raised more than £20,000 to fund the work.

Richard Preston, regional operations manager, said the water was now at a "much safer level."

Richard Preston from the CRT said cyanide that had entered the river was now at a "safe level"

"Testing by the Environment Agency (EA) has shown that the level of cyanide has dropped to a safe level now in all areas that were being tested," he said.

"That's only the start of the remediation, because there are pollutants in the sediment and the silt in the bottom of the canal that now need to be improved and removed."

Testing and sampling was being completed to assess current levels of contaminants in the sediment, he added.

The canal was closed when elevated levels of sodium cyanide and zinc was detected, following the spillage earlier this month.

The cordon was later reduced to a 1km (0.6 mile) section of the canal by Bentley Mill Way, which remains closed with a dam on each side.

Mr Preston said the money raised through a crowdfunding appeal, which includes a £10,000 anonymous donation, would enable the charity to "do so much more" to improve the habitat in the canal and to "return it to the condition that it was."

Future plans for remediation were likely to involve dredging the canal, he added.

The section of the canal that remains closed is dammed at each end, with aerators used to increase oxygen

Due to the cyanide levels dropping, it was also safe to bring in aerators to help increase oxygen levels, which was “vital” for “aquatic life and fish.”

“The cyanide that entered has been tested on a daily basis by the EA. That is now at a safe level," Mr Preston explained.

"So what we’ve been able to do... is bring in aerators which will now address the oxygen levels in the canal and bring those back up to support any life that remains in the canal.”

Following analysis of sediment samples, the closed section of the towpath could open “within the next week," he said, but boaters would have to wait longer as any traffic could potentially stir up sediment which was polluted.

Approximately 90kg (198lbs) of dead fish were removed and taken away for safe storage and disposal following the spill.

The substances were released into the canal after a "chemical incident" at metal finishing firm Anochrome Ltd, which had previously said it "regrettably" released the chemicals and was working with investigating authorities.