After an accidental fuel spill caused the water supply to a George Town apartment complex to become contaminated, Water Authority – Cayman is reminding the public that petroleum products should be handled, stored and disposed of properly.

The contamination was discovered on 16 August, 2017, after one of the residents complained to the Authority that the tap water tasted and smelled of fuel. The Authority’s Water Resources & Quality Control Department started its investigation immediately and, working closely with the apartment property manager, discovered that there had been an accidental fuel spill, which soaked into the soil and affected the water pipeline to the complex. All affected residents were immediately notified and work began the following day to replace the affected pipelines.

 Water Resources Engineer Hendrik-Jan van Genderen said that this incident should serve as a warning of the consequences of the improper handling, storage and disposal of fuel.

“This is why petroleum products should always be stored properly and should never be disposed of directly into the ground, the sea, storm drains or the sewer, and accidental spills should be avoided at all costs. Not only does this harm the environment, it can negatively impact public health,” he said.

Mr. van Genderen explained that when the polyethylene pipelines that the Authority uses for water service connections comes into prolonged contact with fuel or oil, there is a risk that contaminants from the fuel or oil can contaminate the water flowing through the pipeline.

“This is not the first time that a fuel spill has contaminated the water supply to certain properties,” Mr. van Genderen said. “We hope this serves as a reminder to businesses and individuals as to why it is so important to make sure that fuel is stored safely, and used/deteriorated fuel is disposed of properly.”

If you are unsure of how to safely handle, store or disposal of petroleum products, please contact the Cayman Islands Petroleum Inspectorate or the Department of Environmental Health.

For more information on the Water Authority, please visit www.waterauthority.ky.

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The Water Authority is the statutory body responsible for the management of water and wastewater in the Cayman Islands. The Administrative Headquarters is located at 13G Red Gate Road, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.

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