No Evidence of Oil and Gas Spill Pollution Related to September Floods
Posted on Oct 14, 2013 7:42am PDT
Test results from the Colorado Health Department indicate there is “no
evidence” of pollution from oil and gas spills related to the devastating
September floods that destroyed roads, homes and businesses across 4,500
square miles north of Denver.
Worries about contamination from damaged oil and gas infrastructure was
raised in the days following the floods, as pictures of damaged roads
and homes mixed with pictures of tipped storage tanks. The floods also
ripped pipelines and sewer lines and damaged wastewater treatment plants.
The department took 29 water samples in streams. The locations ranged from
the foothills, down the South Platte River, to near the state line.
“Although much attention was focused on spills from oil and gas operations,
it is reassuring the sampling shows no evidence of oil and gas pollutants.
There were elevated E. coli levels, as we expected, in some locations”,
Larry Wolk, executive director and chief medical officer at the department said.
In addition to testing water samples for pollutants associated with oil
and gas spills and bacteria, the department also tested for metals that
could have been released from mining areas. An analysis of these samples
is ongoing. The department will release the results once the analysis
is completed.