February 2, 2004

At approximately 1:30 a.m. 2/2/04, the precautionary advisory issued to certain Macomb Co. and St. Clair Co. water treatment plants recommending no drinking, cooking, and bathing, was rescinded.  All water treatment plants and the St. Clair and Macomb County Health Departments and Emergency Coordinators have been notified. Sampling conducted at all water treatment plants potentially impacted by the spill confirmed that the water supply is safe.

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality will conduct additional downstream precautionary sampling at water systems today to confirm the safety of the drinking water.

The spill of methyl-ethyl ketone and methyl-isobutyl ketone took place between 3 a.m. and 4:20 a.m. from the Imperial Oil facility in Sarnia, Ontario. 

Following notification of the spill, intakes were closed Sunday for water plants that serve the St. Clair County and Macomb County communities of New Baltimore, St. Clair, East China Township, Marine City, Algonac and Ira Township.  State officials warned local water systems to advise residents of the six communities not to drink, cook with or bathe in tap water until test results were available from the water samples.
No detectable traces of the chemicals have been found in the samples and there are no bans on the use of water being provided by these communities.

The state has been providing coordination of sample collection and testing since early yesterday evening. The water use restriction was needed to ensure the public's safety until sample analysis verified that the water is safe for use by the residents of the affected communities.  State officials continue to monitor the event from the state's emergency operations center in Lansing and are exchanging information on the spill with Imperial Oil and Ontario officials.  The cause of the spill is still under investigation.

Editor's note:  DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

Revised February 2, 2004 by Pat Watson