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SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake County Health Department lifted its advisory for three parks after a fuel spill last week contaminated a creek.
A semitruck carrying about 180 gallons of diesel fuel crashed in Parleys Canyon on April 25, and some of the fuel entered a storm drain in Parleys Canyon before crews were able to contain the spill.
Environmental cleanup crews were called out to the scenes at Sugar House Park and Tanner dog park, both of which are located downstream from Parleys Creek. Crews installed absorbent booms around the pond at Sugar House Park, where a sheen of fuel was visible on the water and the scent of gasoline was evident after the spill.
An advisory was implemented for Sugar House Park, Hidden Hollow Park and Parley's Historic Nature Park — known locally as Tanner dog park — to keep animals out of the creek. Officials said the spill did not have an impact on drinking water as the crash happened downstream from the Parleys Canyon water treatment plant.
Officials lifted the advisory Wednesday afternoon. They said water samples taken on April 25 after the spill were found to have low levels of organic chemicals associated with diesel fuel, and water samples taken Tuesday showed no presence of diesel fuel or other chemicals.
Health officials said affected waterways were monitored regularly after the spill and neither a sheen on the water nor odor had been detected in any of the areas since Saturday.
"The absorbent booms placed in strategic areas along the waterway did their job and collected the chemicals," said Dan Moore, enforcement coordinator for the county health department. "All agencies involved responded quickly and appropriately, and we're fortunate that we have not observed any impacts to wildlife — or lasting impacts to the environment — from this incident."
