HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter (gas fumes)
July 20, 1977
TO:
J Act< SCllNEIl>ER
Direeto't' of Publie l'lorks
FROM:
NEIL ST.I\1U<E
Fire Inspeetor
MARvm IttGLft
Plumbit1g Supervisor
SUBJECT: GAS FUMES IN :BmmN S11ttm' 1>t1MPINC STATtON
Fire DepartmEmt wa~ C$;11ed at 11:55 a.m. ott 1-18-77 by aCltlrig duty ebi~lt Mert~n
:r<Ieyer, to t~~t for gas fum~s at Murdock Street pumping sutlott on Anchorage and
BO'tV'en with hyroearb~ tEt, gaug~. Got: a reading of 20 parts p~t' 1tl:Ulion which
"('las determined later to b(! inaeourate beceau~ th~. gauge WU! t\ot workittg correctly.
It was irritati1:tg to noae membranes.. told Tom Konrad, Superiritendet1~ of Sewer
and Water Utilitias that I would get Harvin Higley, Plumbing Inspeetor, at 1:00
p.m. to assist in the tracing of this gas leak.
At 1: 00 p.m. with Marvin Higley t reeeiVM the s~'!' MP to d.temftt4 4\lreas
drained into this putttpi\\g station. Made two _tta cepies and Ha-rv took a detaUed
sewer map alOtlg into t.he field.
Decided to e~ek areas of East Smith and Harrison where sew.re~Bsses over
through Schetele _sem.ent: to' BO't>1$l1 Street. Hallhole at E. ~fth ..~ Rarrisou.was
cheeked and didn't; give .1& ru&s ~hyd~u~ '''itfer.. C~ll for Car 11 to
bring ex:plosivemet~'!'. Captain Meyer and Phil Kroening bio~ght t!t gauge eo the
scene. Got: a reading of 18%-at manhole #15/503 o~ ~arriso~.Street. Che.~~d'
manholes north and $Ot:Jtn o'n 11arrison and did not get .1& readillg" l.Jest on Smith
checking manholes bloek by bl"k to North Hain and got mnal1 rMdit'lgs of about
9%. Then on North Hain weeh.eeked north and south with ~egattv~ rq~f.ag results.
Then followed Smith to Cottlet where gasolfne,ro~t:.s vls;i.ble flO~~1,ng Oft.top
of water in the sardtat'Y s..... At Cenev.it it was also visible at~belelfl51522
where we skimmed .off a sample. Didn't; gat much of a sample because 811 we had
was a gltu~s jar. ~1hen agitation in ttu! sewer .11n~.~s ~btilgreat.t t4fe would get
higher readings. Followed sewer line to Jackson. beyond Jacks.ot1 otl Smith we got
negative readings and also Oft North of J$ckson Stieet ~nhole.
Went south to matlhold 1112/344 in the s:td$Walk ar~. Took off eover and product
was again visible Ott top of the water. The sewer SU'lmnit was about 200 f_t,
south of this manhole in front of the consolidated. statioa. During onectd.ng of
manb,oles we put out four "(<Taming cones plus t1.se4 'red lights oneal' 11. Ca.ptain
Meyer and PhilKroenirig helped with these testfl1gp1"oeedures by eithe!' dirtaetirtg
traf,:fic., settingupwarnmgeonesand assist:lng ill &petdng tn.t 'lMnho14s.
At 3:30 w~. flushed the, to:f.1ets 1n t~ Conaolidate4 Station to try to increase
the water.flow fn'the seTJ1er. The water fl,ow :tn.thesan:ltaltY sewe,wa.s abO\1t 1/2
the pipe and' appeared .to' be ~lea1\' water. The f'luahing of the ~U.ets did not
affec.tthevolicfty of't'hl!! wat~ ht thesewe1\'.
July 20, 1971
Page 2
Talked. to Robert 'l;taughn of Consolidated Gas Company and explained to him that we
had traced gasoline back to t.his area. After he explained there gas storage and
piping, tole discussed the migration of gasol::tne into a sewe:r: systetn. Mr. Vaughn
volunteered to stick the tanks and linkage of the pumping station on Bowen to
make sure that the fumes do not reach JaX}?losive levels.
In three days we will check ~nth Consolidated to se~ what volume check revealed.
We expect infiltration of gasoline to recede with the ground water.
slm/9135-3161