Monday, 23 November 2009 05:42
A fuel additive container exploded on 25 October 2009 in an industrial area near Durban and set fire to numerous other containers - the majority containing glucose.
Protecting the Wetlands
Containment was vital as the area’s storm water drains were in close proximity with a nature reserve and a wetland system. Biozorb booms and and loose fibre was used to remove the oil/hydrocarbons that were spilt from the run off water. The immediate danger of the spill was that if glucose entered the storm water system and/ or the wetlands in the area, the glucose would de- oxygenate the water, leaving it as a hazard to the wildlife in the wetlands as well the community.
Spilltech Called In
Spilltech were called in to clean up, contain, and rehabilitate and to ensure that the explosion site and spill area s are glucose free.
The Spilltech team worked around the clock for just under a month using various pumps to clean out the drains and swamp area. Various Biozorb booms and cushions were immediately used to absorb the toxic spill. BIOZORB is revolutionary oil and hydrocarbon absorbent made from premium Canadian sphagnum peat moss, and was highly effective in these circumstances that called for quick, effective, environmental friendly clean up.
Successful Initial Clean-up
Once the initial clean up was successfully completed the Spilltech team of spill responders have worked to ensure that the explosion site has been rehabilitated to the way it was before the incident.
As an added precaution, to ensure that no glucose enters the water system, the paving of the depot where the explosion occurred was high pressure cleaned using various non- hazardous chemicals to de- grease the area.
High Pressure Cleaning
- Salvageable burnt containers were pumped out and high pressure and cleaned with biological cleaners.
- All run off from the high pressure cleaning was pumped into tubes and taken for waste disposal.
- All contaminated soil that had been removed and bagged from site, was also taken for disposal at a H:h waste disposal facility.
- Spilltech has contracted SRK consulting engineers and scientists to conduct soil and ground water monitoring before asking the Department of Water Affairs to sign the site off.
Lin Gravelet Blondin from Water Lily Consulting was contracted by Spilltech to handle the wastewater and waste and his 35 years experience were invaluable to the overall handling of the incident. Water Lily consulting was also involved in the monitoring.
Spilltech has contracted Sivest to monitor the wetland area and advise on remediation measures. A total of four audits over a two month period will be conducted. Auditing will involve assessment of the vegetation species composition and health. As vegetation is considered to react quickly to either positive or negative environmental conditions it can be used as a good indicator of habitat change as a result of external influences.
Products used to contain and absorb the spilled product:
BIOZORB fibre, BIOZORB booms, polypropylene retention booms. Lemsolv and OT8 were the biological cleaners used on the site.
