Diesel spill from Equinix data center reached creek in Secaucus

In short: A diesel fuel leak at Equinix’s NY2 data center in Secaucus, New Jersey, spilled into a nearby creek, but officials say it was contained before reaching the Hackensack River.

What happened

The spill happened on the evening of Sept. 11 at Equinix’s NY2 facility in Secaucus. Officials said No. 2 diesel fuel leaked from a storage tank outside the building.

Estimates of the spill amount varied by report, at about 5,000 to 5,500 gallons. The diesel entered Anderson Creek, which is a small waterway that flows toward the Hackensack River.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, or DEP (the state agency that oversees pollution and cleanup), said the spill was contained before it reached the Hackensack River. The DEP also said there were no reported impacts to the river or to wildlife.

Cleanup work is being handled by contractors, including Clean Harbors. State officials said crews would stay on site for several days.

Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli said the cause was a “computer glitch” (meaning an unexpected problem in a control system), but the DEP said it has not made a final determination about the specific cause.

Why it matters

Data centers are large buildings that run servers (rows of computers that power websites and online services), and they often keep diesel on hand for backup generators, like a large emergency power supply. When fuel leaks, it can move quickly through storm drains and creeks, so fast containment and careful cleanup help reduce the risk of pollution downstream.

Source: NYTimes