More than 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel spill into South Carolina marsh

A failed pump control caused more than 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel from a wastewater treatment plant to spill into a South Carolina marsh near Charleston on Saturday morning, officials said.

The fuel leaked from a generator at the Plum Island Wastewater Treatment, the Post and Courier reported. The Coast Guard said 80% of the 3,100 gallons of fuel leaked from the plant into the marsh and into Dill Creek, the newspaper reported.

Officials at the treatment plant said the leak occurred at around 7 a.m., WCIV reported. About 20% was cleaned up immediately, the television station reported.

Charleston Water System spokesman Mike Saia said contractors have been working since 9 a.m. to clean the area, the Post and Courier reported.

Andrew Wunderley of Charleston Waterkeeper said it was too soon to see what impact the fuel spill might have, the newspaper reported. Even if remnants of the fuel remain on land, floodwater and high tides could wash toxins down to the marshes.

“It’s hard to know exactly what’s going to happen because it’s so dynamic,” Wunderley told the Post and Courier. “The marsh in that area doesn’t look healthy; it’s bare, brown, kind of thin ... but hopefully, it’ll be quick, hopefully, the cleanup is thorough.”

Cox Media Group