The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MOECP) were onsite at Gardiner Drive in Ajax on Monday, March 16, to investigate suspected gas leak.
The suspected gas leak was said to be from a nearby gas station.
Residents of Gardiner Drive may have noticed an odour coming from the catch basins in the area. The leak has been contained and there is no risk to public safety, said a town statement.
It said if there is a change in this status, area residents will be informed immediately.
Once the investigation is complete, the town will begin cleaning out the impacted catch basins, it added.
If you suspect a gas leak in your home or area, please leave immediately and call 911 or your local fire department, the town advised.
Pipes or appliances powered by natural gas can develop leaks, which can have potentially negative effects. It’s important to be able to identify signs of a natural gas leak.
- The smell of rotten eggs. In its natural state, natural gas is odourless and colourless. To make gas leaks easier to detect, gas companies add chemicals called odorants to create a natural gas smell similar to sulphur or rotting eggs. The stronger this smell, the more likely it is that you have a gas leak.
- Hissing sounds. Large gas leaks in pipes or appliances may produce hissing noises, even if the appliance is turned off. Check pipes and appliances regularly, listening for any hissing noises.
- Air bubbles outside your home. Natural gas leaks can also occur in underground piping outside the home. If you see bubbles in standing water—including puddles and mud—it may be a sign of natural gas dispersing through the soil and into the surrounding air.
- Dead or dying plants. Dead, dying or stunted plants inside or outside your home can be a potential sign of a natural gas leak in your home, especially if you’ve been taking proper care of your plants. The presence of natural gas prevents a plant’s roots from absorbing oxygen and can lead to wilting. Natural gas leaks can also cause smaller-than-normal leaves on trees, wilted plants and yellowish patches of grass.
- Higher-than-normal gas usage. An increase in the amount of natural gas your home uses can indicate a natural gas leak. Seasonal increases in natural gas use is to be expected when using a gas furnace, but unexplained increases might suggest a leak somewhere in or around your home.