(WBBM NEWSRADIO) - One of nature’s own water filters is being counted on to help clean a huge gasoline spill in the far western suburbs.
Elburn and Countryside Fire Protection District Chief Joe Cluchey said specialized trucks are suctioning up the gas and absorbent pads are being put down but experts are also relying on the cattails that are growing in the wetlands.
“One of the advantages in the wetlands, the cattails absorb the hydro-carbons so, we believe that a lot of that is contained within the cattails,” said the chief.
Chief Cluchey said, eventually, the cattails will be removed and taken to a hazardous waste site.
As much as 8,000 gallons of gasoline spilled into a wetlands next to a Shell gas station on Route 64 and Route 47 in Lily Lake on Wednesday. Officials said that, while preparing to put in new piping for seven underground tanks, crews dug a hole to get to three of the tanks but heavy rains filled the hole.
Because the tanks were only partially filled, Chief Cluchey said the tanks became buoyant and floated. When they did, the portion not exposed pressed against the concrete above them and cracked, leaking the gasoline.
The Illinois EPA is overseeing the clean-up and monitoring to make sure the gasoline does not seep into Ferson Creek, a tributary of the Fox River. Chief Cluchey said, so far, there’s been no sign of that.
The fire chief said the intersection of Route 64 and Route 47 is open now but that one lane of eastbound Route 64 is closed because a suction truck is in a lane of traffic.
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