Springfield Utility Board water crews and other emergency responders met at Finn Rock on the McKenzie River on October 16th for an annual “spill drill,” where they practiced working together to contain an oil or gas spill, if one were to occur.
Led each year by Eugene Water and Electric Board, the drill includes dozens of watershed scientists, utility workers, firefighters, and hazardous materials specialists.
The crews wade into the river to set up fast-water containment booms. The floating booms direct surface contaminants like oil into a skimmer that would remove it from the water. Team members control the booms with a series of ropes spanning the river.
“There’s nothing like hands-on practice,” says Jay McElhose, SUB water production supervisor. “Working the equipment, working the problem, and working on our communication across different agencies is key to making sure we can are ready to protect our drinking water sources.”
Currently, SUB’s drinking water comes primarily from groundwater wells and from the Middle Fork Willamette River, and we will be adding the McKenzie River to our drinking water sources in the near future.