Montana city gets OK to drink water after oil spill in river

[neverforget]

Source: Yahoo News

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Thousands of people in an eastern Montana city were told Thursday they can resume using tap water after tests showed no further signs of contamination from a weekend oil spill into a nearby river.

The 6,000 residents of Glendive had relied on bottled water since Monday after elevated levels of cancer-causing benzene were found in the public water supply. The chemical came from 40,000 gallons of oil that spilled on Saturday from a pipeline breach beneath the Yellowstone River, about six miles upstream of the city.

Paul Peronard with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said residents should open their taps and run the water to flush out any residual contamination.

"If it doesn't smell anymore you have cleaned it out, you're good," Peronard said. "Citizens can start drinking it."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/montana-oil-spill-renews-worry-over-safety-old-060048715.html

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Yay Glendive! You're water doesn't smell anymore! Just run it for 10 minutes and air out the house afterwards.....

"I ran it for about ten minutes and had to open up the door for five minutes to get the smell out," she said. "My God, did I end up getting a headache."

[Politicalboi]

1. Isn't that oil hidden by ice

So they're going by the "If I don't see any oil, there isn't any oil". Tell the higher ups, you first. I wouldn't trust them.

[2naSalit]

2. No joke there!

Since it's crude, it has likely coated the pipes throughout the system. I wouldn't trust them in this. I have worked with crude, in another life, and it took 2 cups of vinegar and 2 T of dish soap along with the normal treatment of laundry detergent/load of three pair to get much but not all of it out of my jeans. And I would go to the laundrymat so I wouldn't ruin our washer/dryer. I used to have to peel my outer clothing off outside the house before entering and I kept canvas with coating on one side on my car seat. That stuff is nasty and with the temps we have been seeing in MT lately, the stuff is extra thick and sticky.

Glad I live at the headwaters, yikes.

[lobodons]

3. New Normal..??

Really? The new Normal should be to be worried about clean drinking water due to oil contamination..??

[nc4bo]

4. To that I'd say, after you Paulie.

How bout you enjoy the same "safe" tap water as the rest of us poor slobs who can't afford to just LEAVE.

That goes for all the governmental regulators, representatives and good ole Bridger Pipeline CEO's.

A little good faith is all that needed here.