Several gallons of oil entered the Schuylkill River in Reading on Friday, prompting a response from city and county emergency personnel who deployed containment booms in the water.
The spill was reported around 12:30 p.m. Sept. 25 in the area of 200 Riverfront Drive, just downstream from the Schuylkill River Trail railroad bridge.
The initial dispatch described that a large amount of oil was observed in the river, with the substance appearing to enter the water from a storm sewer pipe. Crews indicated the material was believed to be home heating oil.
The Reading Fire Department deployed an inflatable boat and approximately 110 feet of booms in the river to contain the spill and limit its movement.
In a statement, the City of Reading said additional county resources assisted with deploying the booms and ensuring the material was captured without creating an additional risk.
The city said its Public Works Department, Fire Marshal’s Office and Reading Police Department are involved in the response and are monitoring the situation, particularly with rain in the forecast for the weekend.
Officials said there were no issues reported at the nearby businesses.
The city said it has identified an area where the discharge may have originated and plans to review available surveillance footage as part of its investigation. The specific source of the oil had not been publicly identified.
“No discharge of oil or other substances into our rivers is permitted,” the city said. “Protecting the health of the Schuylkill River and the quality of our water resources is important to the City and our community.”
Officials said the city will continue monitoring conditions and coordinating with appropriate agencies as needed.
