Mapping Gas Leaks in Newton and Beyond
By Lucia Dolan/Guest Columnist
February 8, 2012
Are there dangerous gas leaks in Newton? that was the question at last Monday's "Greening our Community" presentation at the Newton Free Library. Dr. Nathan Phillips, director of Boston University's Department of Geography and the Environment, shared results of a preliminary mapping of methane gas leaks in Newton. Dr. Phillips and his team share their maps with the gas companies and immediately report potentially explosive leaks they find but explosions are not what motivate his rea search. Trees are.
Newton loses more than 600 trees a year from a variety of causes. Dr Phillips is researching how underground methane gas leaks affect trees. Recently he autopsied a dead Norwegian Maple that had been growing over a leak. He found gas throughout the tree- roots, trunk, branches, and bark. The underside of the bark had turned an interesting shade of blue. Soil surrounding the roots was dry and oxygen-deprived. Methane gas leaks can cause striking mushroom formations on trees. Large, shelf-like mushrooms, that look like a brown rainbow growing on the side of a tree, indicate a probably gas leak nearby. Dr. Phillips is coordinating his team's work with the Newton Tree Conservatory (NTC). Before the NTC donates a tree to the city, the sail is tested to verify no nearby gas leaks.
Gas leaks are prevalent in many communities, because of our aging infrastructure. Gas companies will send someone to check reports of a leak. If it is at a potentially explosive level, the company will repair it. The old pipelines are being replaced, but not at a pace that will eliminate all of the leak problems quickly
At Dr. Phillips presentation, it was noted that Newton's High Performance Building Coalition (HPBC) is working to coordinate city roadwork with private gas company repair work. the HPBC would like gas companies to assess pipes when the city is working on a road and fix any leaks before the road is paved. This would not only save energy by reducing the amount to methane lost trough leaks, but also reduce the amount of patchwork on our roads from pipe repairs done after a road is resurfaced.
Dr. Phillips' presentation "Mapping Gas Leaks in Newton and Beyond" can be viewed on NewTV Tuesday at 8:00 February 14 (for other dates and times check the NewTV program listing).