Vandalism causes 60-gallon fuel spill into stormwater ditch on Johns Island, Charleston Water System says

JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) – An act of vandalism resulted in roughly 60 gallons of diesel fuel being spilled from a construction vehicle into a stormwater ditch on Johns Island.

Officials with Charleston Water System said the fuel spilled into a stormwater ditch behind homes along Colonel Harrison Drive, which leads to the Stono River.

The utility company said clean-up efforts are underway. It’s not clear when the vandalism or fuel spill occurred.

But officials with Charleston Water tell News 2 that a resident called the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) on Sunday afternoon after observing the odor of fuel. DHEC then called the city, who contacted Charleston Water.

The damaged equipment belongs to contractors who are working on a sewer project in the Shoreline Farms and Stonoview subdivisions.

“Our contractor cleaned up a portion of the spill, immediately called in a professional environmental remediation company, and notified SC DHEC and the EPA’s National Response Center,” said Mike Saia, CWS Public Information Administrator. “It may take several days for them to recapture all remnants of the fuel.”

Officials with the utility company said this was the third instance of vandalism to contractor equipment in recent weeks.

News 2 has reached out to the Charleston Police Department for more information about the vandalism.