Newport pipeline leak: questions and answers - August 2007 Update
- How long is clean up going to take?
- Is it safe for me to eat vegetables grown in my garden?
- Is my drinking water safe?
- Is my health at risk from vapours in the area?
- Is there an explosion risk?
- How much petrol was spilled from the leak?
- Where has the spill gone?
- Is there a chance that there is petrol in the groundwater under my house?
- How can we be sure the other pipelines in the area are not leaking?
- I am concerned for my health as a result of the leak. Can I see a doctor?
- Following the community reports of odour, how was the source of the leak identified?
- Why is it taking so long to clean up?
- How can I find out more information about the leak and the clean up?
- Further information
How long is clean up going to take?
Mobil is continuing active clean up of soil and groundwater contamination. Clean up of polluted groundwater in the area will take several years. The estimated extent of contamination identified by Mobil as at July 2007 is detailed in the attached figure.
Mobil have advised that they will be submitting the environmental audit report, required under the EPA Clean Up Notice, by 31 August 2007.
Mobil have advised that they will be submitting the Clean Up Plan, required under the EPA Clean Up Notice, by 30 September 2007 for EPA approval.
Is it safe for me to eat vegetables grown in my garden?
Groundwater is located seven to nine metres from the ground surface in the area which means it is highly unlikely to impact fruit and vegetables grown on people’s properties.
The estimated extent of contamination identified by Mobil as at July 2007 is detailed in the attached figure.
As a precautionary measure, people should avoid deep excavations in the area until the full extent of the contamination is assessed.
Is my drinking water safe?
City West Water was notified of a petrol smell in the water supply of an industrial site in Champion Road in late January 2007. Testing of water undertaken since identification of the issue has confirmed that, apart from the one industrial site, the water is safe to drink and adheres to Australian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines.
The pipework within the affected industrial site has been replaced. City West Water also replaced the pipework in the vicinity of the site as a precautionary measure.
Further information can be obtained from City West Water by phoning: 13WATER.
Is my health at risk from vapours in the area?
EPA undertook specialised air quality monitoring on 12 December 2006. Results showed that the levels were well below those required to protect human health.
Vapour management and monitoring activities, undertaken to prevent odours from petrol in soils and groundwater, are continuing as part of Mobil’s overall clean up in the area.
Mobil was required to complete a health risk assessment by 31 March 2007 to provide more information about the possible risks posed by the petrol products in the water. The findings of the health risk assessment are being comprehensively evaluated as a component of the environmental audit. The risk assessment completed concluded that there were no unacceptable human health risks resulting from the contamination of soil and groundwater from the pipeline leak.
Is there an explosion risk?
The area is considered to be safe in relation to vapour risk.
On 12 December 2006 Victoria Police set up a Municipal Coordination Centre, under the Emergency Management Act, as part of a multi agency response to the fuel leak. On 19 December, emergency services considered the environment safe for community members and so the Coordination Centre withdrew from the area.
Since that time ongoing vapour monitoring and management has been occurring in the area to prevent odours.
How much petrol was spilled from the leak?
It is currently unknown how much petrol has leaked from the pipeline. Mobil are continuing their investigations and were required to define the full extent of the plume by 31 July 2007. The estimated extent of the petrol plume identified by Mobil as at July 207 is detailed in the attached figure.
So far many thousands of litres of liquid (fuel/water mixture) has been removed from the stormwater drains, soil and groundwater.
Where has the spill gone?
Mobil are continuing their investigations and were required to define the full extent of the plume by 31 July 2007. The approximate area in which Mobil has detected petrol in groundwater wells as at July 2007 is described in the attached figure.
Is there a chance that there is petrol in the groundwater under my house?
The approximate area in which Mobil has detected petrol in the groundwater wells as at July 2007 is described in the attached figure. The groundwater is located seven to nine metres below ground level and is not commonly used by residents, businesses or local industries.
How can we be sure the other pipelines in the area are not leaking?
EPA required Mobil to undertake integrity testing of all its other underground sections of pipelines in the area by 31 March 2007. This work has been completed and no further leaks were identified.
Mobil is also carrying out further inspection and replacement works on its underground pipelines in the area.
Shell conducted integrity testing on two of its underground pipelines as part of the initial investigations that occurred in December 2006. These pipeline were found to be not leaking.
Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) has the responsibility for petroleum pipeline regulation in Victoria. EPA is working with ESV, and other oil companies to assess the integrity of all pipelines in the area.
I am concerned for my health as a result of the leak. Can I see a doctor?
If you are concerned about your health and believe it has been impacted by the pipeline leak then Hobsons Bay City Council advises that you see your local GP or the Council’s Medical Officer of Health:
Dr Murray Verso
107 Ferguson St, Williamstown
Phone: 9367 1366.
Following the community reports of odour, how was the source of the leak identified?
Potential sources of the leak were located some distance from the initial odour reports.
In this situation there is a complex system of underground services, for example oil pipelines, a gas pipeline and stormwater drains through which the material could travel.
The source was found through a combination of underground cameras within the stormwater drainage network and pipeline integrity testing by both Mobil and Shell.
Why is it taking so long to clean up?
Clean up began as soon as pollution was identified. Clean up began on 9 December 2006 with extraction of stormwater and fuel material from the outlet of an underground stormwater drain near the end of Violet Street, Williamstown North.
Thousands of litres of water mixed with fuel product were removed from an open drain, under supervision of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. This continued until all fuel product in the drain was removed.
To minimise odours, vapours and potential impacts on the community and to waterways, the stormwater drain along Market Street was flushed and liquid (fuel/water mixture) extracted on 11 December 2006.
Under EPA direction, clean up was then taken over by Mobil and expanded to include soil vapour and groundwater extraction.
Clean up will be complex and will take several years to complete. Mobil are currently installing a network of groundwater clean up technologies to remove petrol from the groundwater table.
How can I find out more information about the leak and the clean up?
Mobil is holding a community meeting at 199 Champion Road, Newport at 5:45 on Thursday 16 August.
For further information you can contact:
For environmental concerns and in relation to the community meetings
Rolf Bjerkhamn
EPA Victoria’s West Metropolitan Region
Phone: 9695 2630
For concerns about water quality
Georges Ruta
City West Water
Phone: 9313 8388 or 13WATER
Regarding ongoing management of the issue
Mobil Refinery Hotline - 1800 659 527
For residents requiring further information
Eddie Knight
Hobsons Bay Council
Municipal Emergency Resource Officer
Phone: 0419 750 976
Figure 1: Reference Melways Map 55
Potentially affected area is the shaded area.
Figure 1: Approximate area in which Mobil has detected petrol in groundwater wells as at July 2007. Source: Mobil Refining Australia Pty. Ltd.