A semi-truck driver has been charged after 2,500 litres of liquid asphalt spilled into Saskatoon’s storm water system.
Fire crews were called to a parking lot on Avenue C North — behind the Travelodge Hotel — just after noon Saturday. Asphalt emulsion, a liquid-like petroleum-based substance used during road construction, was leaking from a semi-tank into a storm drain.
All 3,000 litres in the truck spilled out with about 2,500 litres making it into the storm system before fire crews could block the drain, said fire department battalion chief David Nahachewsky.
“Our main concern is to stop it from getting to the river,” he said. “It’s not a high health risk. Basically it’s an environmental issue.”
The Ministry of Environment, Saskatoon police and the city all responded to the incident. Envirotec Services — a recycling and waste management company — was also called.
City crews traced the storm line while Envirotec employees blocked the spill from reaching the river.
Nahachewsky wasn’t sure how quickly the storm line flowed, but said the asphalt emulsion had not moved far by the time the line was plugged. “It was near the source,” he said.
Suction trucks were called to clean the line. Nahachewsky could not estimate how long cleanup would take or how much it would cost.
He was unsure how the spill occurred.
Police did not provide details but said a 45-year-old man is facing a driving without due care and attention charge in relation to the incident.
