Tilley potato farmer ordered to clean seeping sludge

Thick, black, smelly liquid has been flowing out of a large storage shed on Lerwick Road in Tilley for more than a week.

The liquid was slowly flowing across the road and into a stream that runs there. Now a barrier is in place keeping the mess from the road, but the stench persists.

Henry Junulewicz's home is located behind the shed. He is concerned the liquid is having a negative impact on the water and wildlife that surrounds the property. It has been diverted from the driveway into a culvert.

"It's not any better than an oil spill. As you can see, it looks similar to an oil spill and the results are the death of the fish and the other animals that are drinking from the brook that is behind the property," he said.

He is also tired of the smell. Junulewicz says a potato crop was harvested in early fall and stored, without issue, until the liquid began leaking through the front and back of the building last week.

"The other concern is my drinking water, my second concern, and my third concern is the smell that I have to put up with when the wind turns."

In an email to CBC News, the department of environment and local government (DELG) states "other than odour issue no environmental impacts have been identified."

The department said it has given the property owner until July 1 to clean the mess. "The order was served to Highway 3 Spud Farms Ltd., of which Jan and Sandra Tepper are directors," stated Jennifer Graham, spokesperson for DELG.

"The property owner is currently putting together a proposal to clean-up the sludge and properly dispose of the potatoes," said Graham Friday.

CBC News reached Jan Tepper but he declined to comment at this time.