Crews continue cleanup efforts from diesel fuel leak at Towson detention center

Emergency crews in Baltimore County continued with cleanup efforts on Tuesday after a diesel fuel leak was discovered on Saturday and spilled into a nearby waterway.

Diesel began leaking Saturday evening from a generator at the Baltimore County Detention Center in Towson, and officials said they stopped the leak quickly after discovering it.

Crews continued working Tuesday on efforts to contain and recover fuel from Long Quarter Branch, a tributary of the Loch Raven Reservoir. 

"Baltimore County and its partners have met several immediate containment objectives and are planning for sustained recovery, including continued assessment of the stream and surrounding area," said a spokesperson for Baltimore County. 

The Department of Public Works (DPW) has inspected the full 2,300-foot storm drain route from the detention center to the stream and found no residual fuel in the drain, the spokesperson said, adding that "cleanup and monitoring are ongoing."

On Sunday, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) said that after the fuel spilled into Long Quarter Branch, it immediately sent its emergency response team to take immediate containment measures. It added that it does not expect the drinking water supply at Loch Raven Reservoir to be affected after the fuel spill. 

Officials say no known impact to public water or private wells

The county said in its statement that "there is no reported impact to public drinking water or private wells."

County officials estimated on Saturday the diesel leak released approximately 5,500 gallons of fuel. But in Monday's statement, they clarified that "newly obtained tank records and measurements indicate significantly less diesel was released from the generator than the original estimate." 

Cleanup crews estimated on Monday that about 2,200 gallons of fuel had spilled, and they had recovered about 1,200 gallons so far. 

"The amount released is not the same as the amount that reached the stream. Some fuel may have remained in a holding tank beneath the generator or elsewhere in the drainage system, and crews have recovered fuel from the stream," the statement said. "Responders are examining these locations and reconciling the amounts before determining how much reached Long Quarter Branch."   

The agency said there have been no reports of impacts to wildlife or residents in the area. However, people with respiratory conditions are advised to avoid the area because of localized fuel odors.

Joint effort to respond to the spill

The county has been working with Baltimore City, MDE, the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies to clean up the spill and assess nearby waterways, including the area around Loch Raven Reservoir.

MDE said the detention center has hired a contractor to handle the bulk of the cleanup. "We have now transitioned into an oversight role as the detention center, as the responsible party, has hired a contractor to handle cleanup operations," it said.

Meanwhile, MDE's Water Supply Program has been in communication with Baltimore City and is monitoring the situation.

As a precaution, the county is asking people and pets to avoid water with an odor or a visible sheen.

MDE's drinking water assessment

Cal Bowman, director of Baltimore County Emergency Management, explained why MDE does not expect the drinking water supply to be impacted.

He said water from Loch Raven Reservoir enters the system through submerged intakes and travels through an underground tunnel to Baltimore City's Montebello treatment plants.

At the plants, particles are removed and the water is allowed to settle before it passes through filters and is disinfected.

The treated water then travels through the distribution system to homes and businesses.

Bowman said MDE reported that the intakes that send water to Lake Montebello are approximately 31 feet below the surface and more than four miles from where the affected stream enters the reservoir.

Based on its assessment, MDE does not expect the intakes to be directly impacted.

"The depth and the distance alone are not really just a guarantee, and we shouldn't assume that treatment removes every chemical," Bowman said. "We will continue to work with MDE and our water system experts to validate any future impact to our drinking water as it develops."

Some neighbors are still concerned about the quality of the drinking water.

"I do have some concerns," a neighbor said. "If there's that much fuel that spilled, how do you possibly contain 100% of it, especially with the rains that came through?  That was some fast-moving water at times last night."