Approximately 25,000 gallons of no. 6 oil was released from the over-flow of a 2.4 million gallon tank into the secondary containment at the Gainesville Regional Utility facility. Due to "human error" approximately 10,000 to 12,000 gallons of that oil was released into the Utility's storm water system. Approximately 13,000 gallons of oil was recovered from the secondary containment and another 2,900 gallons was recovered from the storm water system. The oil has contaminated soil and water along approximately 1/2 mile of a drainage ditch within the Utility's property. The release has been secured with earthen dams and collection pits and cleanup is underway. The oil and water mixture is being recovered and the soils are being excavated along the ditch. No oil left the Utility's property and Turkey Creek has not been impacted.
For additional information, visit the
Pollution Report
(POLREPS)
section.