Concrete sealant leaks into Ottawa River

10/25/2004

A contractor working yesterday afternoon on a Detroit Avenue bridge allowed a quantity of concrete sealant to fall into the Ottawa River, the city environmental services said.

Jeanette Ball, manager of environment services, said about five gallons of overspray solution was found on the river s surface after nearby apartment dwellers complained of its smell about 5 p.m.

Xylene, a toxic, flammable liquid that is insoluble in water, is a component of the solution but was not in sufficient concentrations to be a hazard, she said. No cleanup of the chemical will be required, she said.