Saint John tests water after gas spill

[B]Extra tests will take place for next 60 days[/B]

Saint John Water officials are monitoring waterways for contamination after as much as 60 litres of gas spilled into Ratcliffe Brook after a truck flipped over on Otter Lake Road on Saturday night.

Ratcliffe Brook is part of the city's drinking water supply and eventually leads to Latimer Lake.

Brent McGovern, the deputy commissioner of Saint John Water, said water is being tested to make sure no contaminants make it into the city's drinking water.

"We don't have many tools in our toolbox to deal with a spill like this given our treatment technology," McGovern said.

"Advanced levels of treatment would give us additional tools to help deal with this. However, we're fortunate the spill occurred at a location somewhat remote from the Latimer Lake water treatment facility."

McGovern said it takes 40 days for the water to make its way to the reservoir so it's more than likely the gas will dissipate before it gets too close.

As a precaution, the city will continue to monitor the area for the next 60 days.

"We think the risk is very low given that there is a long retention time," McGovern said.

"So we don't expect to see an exceedance because we believe the watershed can effectively deal with a spill of this nature."