Hydraulic Oil Spill Closes Streets in Norwich

0:00
0:00 / 1:38

A hydraulic fluid spill caused problems during the morning commute in Norwich when around 30 gallons leaked from a garbage truck around 7 a.m. Monday.

A spokesperson for the Plainville-based garbage company CWPM said one of their drivers forgot to shut off the pump to his garbage truck, causing a hydraulic line to leak oil, and didn’t realize what had happened and continued driving until running out of oil.

Officials from public works estimates the fluid leaked for half a mile, from the top of Broadway, onto Main Street and through Franklin Square.

School bus routes were also affected by the spill and had to reroute. 

CWPM hired a private environmental company for the cleanup. Around five yards of sand were set down to absorb the oil and streets were closed until the sand was cleaned up.

Crews from the state Department of Energy were concerned about oil getting into the water, but said they did not find any in the catch basins.

CWPM will be responsible for the cleanup costs and the spokesperson did not have an estimate on how much that will be.

Contact Us