This past weekend,
a 12-inch pipeline burst in Montana and an estimated 50,000 gallons of oil leaked into the Yellowstone River. Now it's being reported that raised levels of the cancer-causing chemical benzene
have been detected in the drinking water.
Elevated levels of benzene were found in samples taken from a water treatment plant that serves about 6,000 people in the agricultural community of Glendive near the North Dakota border, officials said.
Truckloads of bottled water were expected to be brought in Tuesday, and residents were warned not to drink or cook with water from their taps.
The most disturbing part about this is that after some initial tests, Montanans were told their water was safe. It wasn't until people complained about the oily smell coming from their faucets that secondary tests were performed, revealing the elevated levels of cancer-causing chemicals—days after people had been told it was safe to drink the water.
Representatives from Montana and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said preliminary tests did not show cause for concern but additional tests ordered after residents complained of a petroleum- or diesel-like smell from their tap water revealed the benzene.
Wesley Henderson, a 36-year-old oilfield worker, said he bought 5 gallons of water after his wife noticed a strange odor coming from their tap water. An advisory against ingesting water from the city's treatment plant was issued late Monday.
"It sucks," Henderson said Tuesday. "I didn't find out about the advisory until after I'd been drinking it. My stomach hurt all day yesterday. I don't know if that was just in my mind."
This is frightening—and Bridger Pipeline LLC, the company responsible for the spill, must be held accountable.