Fuel Leak Investigation

Diesel fuel is leaking into a Champaign County waterway near Philo.  The Environmental Protection Agency says it won't affect your drinking water.   But it is still questioning how the fuel got into the drain.

Philo firefighters found the drain the fuel was coming from Monday night. On Tuesday, the EPA tried to find the source of the fuel.  Emergency Responder Dan Bowen says they were looking for anything out of the ordinary, like signs of a spill or any odors of a spill.

But Bowen says he couldn't find any sign of something wrong.  For now, they worked to contain the problem.  They put oil absorbent booms in the waterways to stop some fo the diesel from passing.   But the fuel is so thin, much of it just passed right through the booms. 
 
Bowen says, "the booms are designed to only absorb petroleum products, however they have to be fairly thick.  Like a free product material, as opposed to something that's diluted and thinned out."

EPA responders say people in the area shouldn't be worried about any health concerns or contamination to their water.  They say it's a surface body of water, and most people get their water from groundwater, like local wells or public water supply.

But the EPA will continue to investigate and monitor the creek, until the fuel disappears.