Petroleum product seeps into English Coulee in Grand Forks
Apr. 16—Personnel from UND and the city of Grand Forks' Public Works Department spent time Friday monitoring what could be an oil or diesel leak into the local waterway.
The personnel on the scene told the Grand Forks Herald that they know where the leak is coming into the coulee, but they don't yet know from where the leak has originated. An oily sheen, roughly 80 or 100 yards in length, was apparent on the water Friday.
The substance was leaking into the coulee near the 1000 block of Oxbow Court, in north Grand Forks near the Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Staff on the scene said it's not highly unusual that a leak like this occurs, since various pollutants seep into city sewers at times, including paints, oils and the like. They said it happens roughly two or three times a year. Staff said Friday's seepage isn't serious.
Lisa Botnen, assistant water works director for the city of Grand Forks, was among those on the scene Friday. Part of her responsibilities with the city are environmental quality issues.
"It's unsettling. You don't want it to happen ever. I don't mean to make light of it, either. ... I wouldn't constitute it an emergency," Botnen said.
She said the hope is to have a contractor come either Friday or over the weekend to assist in the cleanup.
