2017 spill report shows decrease in number and volume of spills in the NWT

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The Government of the Northwest Territories’ (GNWT) annual spill report for 2017 shows both a reduction in the number and volume of spills in the Northwest Territories (NWT) compared to 2016.

A total of 199 spills were reported in 2017, 23 fewer than the year previous. Of those, 58% were small – less than 100 litres or kilograms. Overall, there was a 10% downturn in spills in 2017.

One area with a noticeable decrease in spills has been residential oil tanks, which has seen an overall decreasing trend in spills since the release of the GNWT’s Homeowners’ Guide to Oil Tanks in 2010.

While some areas, like fuel oil and wastewater, saw a slight increase in number of spills in 2017, the volumes spilled actually decreased significantly. This suggests general improvement in spill reporting and response in the NWT.

For more information on preventing and managing spills, visit https://www.enr.gov.nt.ca/en/services/preventing-and-managing-spills