LINCOLN, Neb. July 16, 2020 — Black Hills Energy is currently responding to reports of natural gas odor in the communities of Waterloo and Valley due to a malfunction in the equipment used to inject mercaptan into the natural gas system in Waterloo.
Natural gas is naturally odor free, so a harmless chemical named mercaptan is added to make leaks easier to detect. The odor is pungent and commonly compared to rotten eggs.
“Safety is our highest priority and we investigate all gas leak reports even though we know the calls are probably generated by the mercaptan, not a natural gas leak,”
“Safety is our highest priority and we investigate all gas leak reports even though we know the calls are probably generated by the mercaptan, not a natural gas leak,” said Dave Chase, natural gas operations supervisor for Black Hills Energy. “We are working to repair the equipment, but we have stopped it from releasing excess mercaptan into the Waterloo system. As always, anyone who thinks they smell natural gas to call us immediately. No one should ever hesitate to report a suspected gas leak.”
If you do suspect a natural gas leak:
- Leave the building or area immediately and tell others to leave too. Alert your neighbors.
- From a safe distance, call 911 and Black Hills Energy’s emergency number: 800-694-8989. Never assume someone else has reported a natural gas leak.
- On the way out, do not flip light switches, open windows, ignite a flame, use a cell phone or other electronics that could cause a spark of static electricity
- Never attempt to repair a natural gas leak and do not attempt to turn natural gas valves on or off.
- Wait for Black Hills Energy and other emergency responders to give the all-clear before acting further.
More natural gas safety
We deliver natural gas to your home or business through a system of underground pipelines. While natural gas has an excellent safety record, it’s important to know a few basic principles to stay safe.