Water samples to be collected in vicinity of diesel fuel oil leak in Monroe County

MONROE — The Monroe County Health Department is offering to collect and test samples of residents’ water after a diesel fuel oil leak was recently discovered in the vicinity of U.S. 23 and U.S. 223. The sampling will begin Monday.

“The sampling will begin at those residences that are most likely to be affected. Generally, these include those homes immediately adjacent to areas where an oil sheen was observed in the waterway. From there, the sampling may expand outward, depending on the results nearest the waterway,” said Chris Westover, Environmental Health Director for MCHD.

Residents living with an onsite drinking water supply, such as well water, immediately adjacent to North Branch Ottawa River, also known as Tenmile Creek moving south, may call or email the MCHD at 734-240-7900 or eh_frontdesk@monroemi.org to provide a name, address, phone number, and email address. Impacted residents will be contacted to set an appointment to collect drinking water samples.

“A diesel oil sheen and smell was discovered from the point of origin and as far south as Hicker Road in the North Branch Ottawa River,” the Monroe County Health Department said in a report this past week.

Crews placed absorption booms in the NBOR near Erie and Sterns Road and used vacuum trucks near the origin of the leak to prevent the sheen and contaminated water getting into the river while searching for the source of the leak, the report said.