Almost 1,500 Gallons of Diesel Fuel Leaks Into Aurora Storm Sewers

Almost 1,500 gallons of diesel fuel spilled into a city of Aurora storm sewer system that empties into the Fox River, according to a press release from the city.

The city was notified of the severity of the spill at 10 a.m. Wednesday. It took place at the Federal Aviation Administration facility at 619 W. Indian Trail. The City of Aurora is working together with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and a privately contracted FAA hazardous material cleanup firm to clean up the spill.

There is no danger to the public water supply, according to the press release. The natural flow of the river has confined the spill to the opposite side of the river from the water treatment plant.

The spill was originally reported at 1 a.m. Wednesday, and the Aurora Fire Department responded to the scene. FAA officials originally thought it was a small amount of fuel between 20 and 100 gallons that overflowed through the top of a malfunctioning underground storage tank, the release said. A spill of that size would be categorized as small, and would not necessitate an immediate cleanup, so plans were made to address cleanup later in the morning.

It was at 10 a.m. that FAA officials informed the city of the larger amount of fuel that was spilled. FAA officials are indicating that it was 1,459 gallons that were accidently discharged.

Aurora crews from the Fire Department, Water and Sewer Department, Water Production Department were all dispatched to the scene, the release said.