Water quality samples collected from towns near a massive tailings pond breach in British Columbia indicate that none of the chemical contaminants exceed provincial or federal guidelines for drinking water, the B.C. Ministry of Environment says.

In a statement released Thursday afternoon, ministry officials said samples were collected near the town of Likely and on the north shore of Quesnel Lake.

“Contaminant concentrations at the above sites were well below aquatic life guidelines at all sites,” the report stated.

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The report did note however, that concentrations for cadmium and zinc could not be compared to guidelines at all sites.

Earlier Thursday, B.C. Premier Christy Clark said initial test results from water contaminated by the breach were “promising.”

Likely is located near the Mount Polley Mine where the tailings dam burst Monday, prompting a local state of emergency.

The breach released approximately 10 million cubic metres of water and 4.5 million cubic metres of potentially toxic silt into the rivers, lakes and creeks of the Cariboo region.

CTV report