A spill requiring downriver notification was reported by a company off Sarnia's St. Clair Parkway on Thursday afternoon.
The notification from Suncor's Sarnia Refinery was received just before 1:40 p.m.
"Initial information is there is a spill to the St. Clair River. More information to follow," the notice read.
A follow-up from Sarnia-Lambton Alerts said community members will notice an odour in the vicinity of the Suncor dock.
"Our first priority is always for the safety of our employees, community members, and the environment, and we are making notifications to the appropriate parties to ensure this response has the necessary support," it stated.
A notice from St. Clair Township just before 2:30 p.m. said the spill could result in unsafe water conditions.
"Until further notice, DO NOT USE water from the St. Clair River and avoid taking leisure crafts out onto the river to avoid skin contact," it read.
Members from Shell's Sarnia Manufacturing Centre in Corunna are providing mutual aid.
"As a member of BASES (Bluewater Association for Safety, Environment and Sustainability), we are providing Shell emergency response equipment and personnel to assist. During this time, the community may notice boats, booms and emergency response vehicles responding," Shell said in its noticed shared by Sarnia-Lambton Alerts.
The Town of Petrolia said at 2:47 p.m. Petrolia water is not affected by the recent St. Clair River notice.
"Please be advised that anyone on the Petrolia water system, including our main line customers; Petrolia, Enniskillen, Oil Springs and Dawn Euphemia residents are not affected by the current notice from St. Clair Township," the town said.
Walpole Island First Nation Council said Walpole Island tap water is safe to use.
The community's intake has been closed and it is now running off the water tower supply.
At 4:06 p.m., St. Clair Township confirmed the spill was crude oil.
The St. Clair Township water distribution system is safe to drink and the spill did not impact the drinking water.
At 4:10 p.m., Suncor said no injuries have been reported.
"At approximately 1 p.m. today, as part of its regular monitoring, the Suncor Sarnia Refinery was alerted to a release of hydrocarbons," the company said. "The source of the release has been identified and isolated. Suncor immediately deployed its response equipment including booms and vacuum equipment on the St. Clair River. We continue to work with local organizations on our response, who are assisting with shoreline assessment and air monitoring in the vicinity."
At 5:38 p.m., Lambton Public Health issued an advisory for St. Clair Township for people to not use water from the St. Clair River.
"After consultation with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks and St. Clair Township, we have confirmed that the spill has concluded but has spread from its source point with potential impacts south of the Suncor Sarnia Refinery," read a release from the health unit. "Until further notice, do not use water from the river under any circumstances and avoid skin contact."
The health unit said municipal water supplies remain safe to drink and bathe in.
A list of steps and precautions has been posted to the health unit's website.
While the spill prompted the alert from Lambton Public Health, municipal officials in Chatham-Kent said there is no concern for Chatham-Kent water.
A release from the Municipality of Chatham-Kent said the Wallaceburg Water Treatment Plant treats water from the Chenal Ecarte for its residents and customers and that the Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission will continue to monitor the situation.
Suncor said all appropriate regulatory agencies and local community organizations have been notified.
"We continue to take all necessary steps to respond and the safety of our people, community members and the environment remains our top priority," Suncor added.
Further information is being shared as it becomes available.