Recurring Hydrocarbon Leak Pollutes Os River at Aixovall
A hydrocarbon spill in the Os River at the same spot as a 2023 incident has worsened despite containment efforts, prompting ongoing investigations.
Key Points
- Leak detected Dec 20 at same Os River site as Oct 2023 spill, now worsening.
- Absorbent booms, mats, and watergate barrier installed; heavy rains complicate containment.
- Daily monitoring with water quality probes; fuel removal by contractor underway.
- Inspections of nearby industrial sites ongoing to identify hydrocarbon source.
A hydrocarbon leak into the Os River at Aixovall marks the same location as a spill detected just over two years ago in October 2023, which was only partially resolved. Environment Department technicians, assisted by industrial safety workers, are investigating the source while acknowledging that the situation has worsened in recent days, with fuel escaping containment measures.
Officials from the department, led by Guillem Casal, confirmed the leak persists and has intensified rather than subsided. Local residents and business owners express concern, with some companies ruling out their facilities as the cause. Recent adaptations to retention devices have been necessary to better contain the hydrocarbons.
The issue surfaced on Saturday, December 20, when trace amounts were first spotted in the river. Environment teams and firefighters responded immediately, deploying absorbent booms and mats. Daily monitoring includes replacing absorbents and tracking fuel levels via a water quality probe.
Last Tuesday, after concentrations rose, firefighters installed a "watergate" barrier, and a contractor was hired for containment maintenance and fuel removal. Heavy rains and fluctuating river flows have complicated efforts, prompting further adjustments to the setup.
This mirrors the 2023 incident at the identical outflow point. The department has re-inspected nearby industrial sites and enlisted industrial safety experts to review all local hydrocarbon storage facilities. Efforts to pinpoint the origin continue.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: