Water OK after Canadian oil spill

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EDMONTON, Alberta, June 14 (UPI) -- A pipeline company in Canada said water tests revealed drinking water met quality standards a week after an oil spill in Alberta province.

Plains Midstream Canada reported a leak from its Rangeland pipeline system last week. Stephen Bart, vice president of crude oil operations at the company, said at a Tuesday news conference that "the good news was the pipeline wasn't flowing" at the time the leak was discovered June 7.

In an incident update, the company said automated valves were closed about 15 minutes before sheen was reported on the Red Deer River near Sundre, Alberta.

The company said elevated levels of hydrocarbons were reported from June 8 water samples. "All subsequent results have met Canadian drinking water quality guidelines," it said.

In terms of air quality, the company said readings where within ambient air quality objects for the province.

As much as 3,000 barrels of oil leaked from the pipeline. Bart this week said plans were under way to vacuum residual oil from the pipeline.

Plains said a high flow rate through the Red Deer River contained most of the spill to a downstream reservoir.