TTC investigating fuel tanks after underground leak at Etobicoke garage

Thestar.com
June 13, 2018
Premila D’sa

The Toronto Transit Commission is investigating all its fuel tanks after an underground storage tank leaked diesel fuel into city sewers last Wednesday.

The underground storage tank which was kept at a bus garage in Etobicoke was found leaking by staff on the morning of June 7.

TTC spokesperson Stuart Green said the leak was caused by a small piece of pipe that was worn out after exposure to the elements.

The fuel leaked from the TTC’s Queensway bus division to a storm sewer that feeds into a water holding pond in Colonel Samuel Smith Park, near Kipling Ave. and Lake Shore Boul. W.

Green said the tank was one of the last two underground fuel tanks on TTC property. It was scheduled to be removed and replaced with an above ground one, according to the commission.

Toronto Water cleaned and flushed out the storm sewer at the site of the leak to remove any diesel fuel. They also set up containment booms in the pond at the park and absorbent booms at the site of the outfall at the park.

The absorbent booms will remain there until the “first significant rainfall” as a precautionary measure, according to the TTC.

After an investigation, Toronto Water didn’t find any evidence of fuel in sewer lines running from the storage area to the park.

According to a TTC press release there is no existing threat to public or employee safety. Green said part of the investigation is figuring out how much fuel was lost but transit operations will not be affected.

The incident is pushing the TTC to conduct a review of all it’s fuel storage tanks and related equipment. The commission said it’s also developing a “site remediation” plan.

The spill was reported to the Spills Action Centre of Ontario’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change as is legally required. The agency will conduct its own investigation.