Press Releases
03/29/2022
Ongoing Multi-Agency Response to Putnam Oil Spill
(HARTFORD)— A multi-agency response and investigation into an oil spill in Putnam that was reported on March 21 remains ongoing.
On March 21, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)’s Emergency Response Unit responded to Saveway Petroleum, located at 10 Mary Crest Drive.Approximately 25,000 gallons of #2 fuel oil from an above-ground storage tank was released, and while some of the oil was contained within an older containment area with a clay floor, some escaped from the containment area and released to the environment. The total amount of oil that has moved into and through the ground is the subject of ongoing environmental investigations.
The facility has taken responsibility for conducting an environmental cleanup, and that cleanup is underway. Since the release was reported, DEEP, the Connecticut Department of Public Health Environmental Health and Drinking Water Branch, the Town of Putnam, and the Northeast District Department of Health (NDDH) have been working in close coordination to ensure the cleanup occurs.
The NDDH has been in contact with residents with private drinking water wells in the closest proximity to the facility, providing residents with information about monitoring their water, and conducting sampling for residents who have elected to have their wells sampled. Sampling began last Friday, with tests continuing this week. Those test results are pending. While there has been no indication at this time that local wells have been affected, the Town of Putnam delivered bottled water last Friday for drinking and cooking purposes in the event any residents detected an odor of fuel oil in their water supply.
DEEP is investigating, in coordination with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Town of Putnam, the status of the petroleum tanks at the Saveway facility. Further on-site work is ongoing to identify the extent and degree of releases, from this incident and any previous releases.
Residents in the immediate area with questions may contact DEEP at DEEP.SpillsDocs@ct.gov. Residents in close proximity to Mary Crest Drive who would like to discuss their well water quality may contact the Northeast District Department of Health at 860-774-7350 or email@NDDH.org, with a copy to the town’s Emergency Management Director, Scott Belleville, scott.belleville@putnamct.us.
Homeowners anywhere relying on private drinking water wells are reminded to sample their wells periodically to ensure safe water quality. Testing is a good idea even if you do not suspect a problem because testing is the only way to be sure your water is safe to drink. Refer to the Connecticut Department of Public Health’s website testyourwell.ct.gov for more information.
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Contact
DEEP Communications
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110