Mayor Mendenhall, emergency management officials warn of possible mercury found at Fairmont Park pond
Sep 8, 2021, 11:34 PM
Salt Lake City officials announced Saturday that testing done so far hasn't found any evidence of mercury contamination Photo near the pond is courtesy of KSL 5.
Salt Lake Mayor Erin Mendenhall is warning residents who live near Fairmont Park that it is possible that mercury has been found in the park’s pond. In a press conference Wednesday night at Forest Dale Golf Course, Mayor Mendenhall says the park will remain open and the risk for exposure is small, but she asks that people stay away from the park.
Salt Lake Emergency Management sent out a notice Wednesday, advising residents to avoid the park for now until further notice.
“Out of an abundance of caution, and until further notice, we ask everyone, including children and pets, avoid Fairmont Park and the park’s pond for public safety purposes. Testing of the pond’s water today found mercury inside the pond,” according to the notice.
Mayor Mendenhall says it is unknown right now the exact level of threat to the public, but she does not believe it is a high level threat.
“I want to reassure our community that at this point we have no reason to believe there is a risk to public health associated with these findings,” said Mendenhall Wednesday night at a press conference.
Health officials say the water from the pond is not used for irrigation nor is anyone’s drinking water affected.
Mayor Mendenhall expects a visit Thursday from officials from a regional office of the Environmental Protection Agency to assess any health risks and to get to the bottom of what might have happened.
The pond at the park was closed late Wednesday night.
