An urgent investigation is underway to see if a petrol leak in East Bay Street, Nassau, has caused widespread contamination of local well water.
Consumers have been warned to be on their guard as experts probe the extent of the leakage, which caused a “strong odour” in the area. It is feared that soil could be badly polluted causing a hazard to well supplies.
The Department of Environmental Health launched the investigation after an apparent leakage of a petroleum product near the Shell Service Station on East Bay Street. The leak is feared to have contaminated water and soil in the area.
Yesterday, parliamentary secretary at the Minister of Health Ron Pinder told The Tribune (newspaper) that the service station initially called the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) last week because they feared their sewerage lines might be blocked.
While WSC technicians were investigating that problem, Mr. Pinder explained that they discovered “a strong odour of petroleum”. It was then that the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) was called to investigate.
Further investigations, which included excavation of the area, revealed that there was evidence of a petroleum product in the soil.
Source: Cara Brennen, Tribune Staff Reporter
