Truckloads of drinking water were being shipped to the eastern Montana city of Glendive after traces of a major oil spill along the Yellowstone River were detected in public water supplies, raising concerns about a potential health risk.
Preliminary tests at the city's water treatment plant indicated that at least some oil got into a water supply intake along the river, according to state and federal officials. About 6,000 people are served by the intake, Glendive Mayor Jerry Jimison said.
Officials stressed that they were bringing in the shipments of drinking water as a precaution and did not know yet whether there was any health threat. Results of further tests to determine the scope of the danger were expected in coming days.
Up to 50,000 gallons (189,000 liters) of oil spilled in the pipeline accident Saturday. Cleanup crews trying to recover the spilled crude were hampered by ice that covered most of the river, making it hard to find the oil.
Initial tests of water supplies Saturday and Sunday revealed no evidence of oil. But by late Sunday, residents began complaining that the water coming from their taps had an unusual odor, officials said.
An advisory against ingesting water from the city's treatment plant was issued yesterday.
Glendive City Councilman Gerald Reichert said he first noticed an odor in the water at his house Sunday night. He said it smelled like diesel fuel.
Officials with Bridger Pipeline LLC of Casper, Wyoming, have said the break in the 12-inch (30-centimeter) steel pipe happened in an area about 5 miles (8 kilometers) upstream from Glendive, an agricultural community in east-central Montana near the North Dakota border.
Bridger spokesman Bill Salvin said yesterday that the company is confident that no more than 1,200 barrels - or roughly 50,000 gallons of oil spilled during the hour-long breach.
An oil sheen was seen near Sidney, almost 60 river miles downstream from Glendive, said Paul Peronard, the on-scene coordinator for the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Booms were being placed in areas of open water to try and trap oil. Near Crane, which is about 30 miles (50 kilometers) downstream from the spill, crews were chopping holes into the ice in hopes that they will be able to vacuum up crude as it comes down the river in coming days.
