JUNEAU — The City and Borough of Juneau is asking for the public’s assistance as officials investigate a hazardous gasoline spill that disrupted operations at the Mendenhall Wastewater Treatment Plant on the morning of May 17.
At approximately 6:15 a.m. that morning, treatment plant operators responded to a sudden and large influx of gasoline into the facility, impacting the plant’s wastewater treatment systems.
Due to the potential health and safety risks, part of the facility was temporarily evacuated while utility crews worked quickly to isolate and contain the damage.
Gasoline in the sewer system poses serious threats to public health, damages critical infrastructure, interferes with treatment operations, and endangers local ecosystems and fisheries.
The CBJ Utility Department, in coordination with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, is conducting a formal investigation and is asking residents for any information that may help identify the source of the contamination.
Community members in the Mendenhall Valley, Lemon Creek, and Salmon Creek areas are especially encouraged to report any observations of fuel spills, leaking tanks or pipes, or any activity that could have led to gasoline entering the drainage or sewer system.
Reports can be submitted directly to the ADEC Spill Prevention and Response team by calling 1-800-478-9300, or emailing reportspills.alaska.gov.
