Tuesday, 26 January 2010 05:58
On 22 January 2010, Spilltech Hazmat Response Team responded to a tanker spill on the freeway 20km outside Hluhluwe, Kwa-Zulu Natal. The driver of the tanker had lost control of the vehicle and headed straight through the barrier.
During this road traffic accident, the trailer disconnected from the horse. The horse was found ±150m further, in the grounds of a Big Five private game reserve.
BIOZORB, a natural hydrocarbon absorbent
12 000 -15 000 litres of product was lost from ruptured compartments on the tanker. BIOZORB, a natural hydrocarbon absorbent, was placed all round the tanker as well as down into the veld to absorb any free phase product.
A trench was dug parallel to the freeway and also filled with to prevent the product from seeping any further into the game reserve soil.
Fast Tank Method
Although many thousands of litres of the product were lost, there were compartments still intact. The product in these compartments was pumped out using the fast tank method.
Spilltech Still Working at Site
At present, Spilltech is still working closely with a geohydrologist to ensure that everything that can be done to restore the spill site is carried out. The Department of Water and Forestry have visited the site and are pleased with the progress that Spilltech Oil and Chemical Pollution Control are making.
