Home Public Awareness Newsletter Photos Contact
Honeoye Storage Corp 4511 Egypt Road, Canandaigua, NY 14424 Phone: (585) 229 - 5161  |  Fax: (585) 229 - 2015
Safety Information About Natural Gas Natural gas is a safe, reliable and affordable energy choice, but it should be handled properly and with care. This is why it’s important for you to be educated about the properties of natural gas and of the potential hazards if natural gas is released through damaged or leaking pipelines: Properties of natural gas:  Natural gas is Colorless  o There is no way to see natural gas being released. However, you can see blowing dirt, dead plants, frozen ground in warm weather and/or bubbling water are all signs of a natural gas leak. Natural gas is Odorless  o Natural gas is colorless, tasteless and odorless unless an odorant, Mercaptan, is added. Mercaptan gives natural gas its rotten egg smell. HONEOYE does not add Mercaptan to natural gas. Natural gas is Nontoxic  o Natural gas is not toxic to humans, however it will displace oxygen. This means that a natural gas leak in a confined environment could significantly reduce the amount of oxygen in the air and create a dangerous environment. Natural gas is Flammable  o Natural gas will ignite with the proper mixture of air and an ignition source. Call HONEOYE STORAGE CORPORATION at 585-229-5161 if you suspect a pipeline leak or damage. How to recognize a natural gas leak What should you do if you suspect one? Natural gas leaks can happen anywhere While rare, natural gas line leaks can be extremely dangerous.  A natural gas leak can impact you, even if you don’t have natural gas service at your home or business. It’s possible for natural gas to migrate into neighboring buildings, including those without natural gas service, so even if you’re not a Honeoye Storage Corporation customer, leaks from nearby facilities and/or pipelines could affect you. The biggest hazard of a gas leak is an explosion. When natural gas builds up in an enclosed area, it becomes extremely volatile. A gas build up has the potential to be explosive, or could make those in the area very sick. Gas leaks in the home can be easily prevented by ensuring flexible gas lines are inspected regularly and installed properly by licensed professionals.  Natural gas leaks can be handled quickly and easily if you know what to look for and what to do if you find one. Here’s how you can identify a natural gas leak: SMELL  o Natural gas is colorless, tasteless and odorless unless an odorant, Mercaptan, is added. Mercaptan gives natural gas its rotten egg smell. HONEOYE does not add Mercaptan to natural gas. LOOK  o Natural gas leaks often cause bubbling water, blowing dirt or dead plants. You may also see sink holes, frozen ground in warm weather and/or exposed pipe. LISTEN  o Natural gas leaks often cause a hissing sound near a natural gas line or meter If you smell natural gas or suspect a leak: Turn off any equipment and eliminate any ignition sources, only if you can do so, without risking injury. Leave the area by foot immediately. After leaving the area, o If it is an Emergency CALL 911! o  Honeoye can be reached at  585-229-5161, 24 hours of the day. Calling Honeoye is NOT a substitution for calling 911 in the event of an emergency. o Call from a neighbor’s house or from another location far from the smell of natural gas DO NOT use anything electrical that may create a spark; this includes cell phones DO NOT operate any light switches DO NOT light a match DO NOT attempt to locate the source of a leak DO NOT attempt to stop a leak DO NOT return to the area until emergency services have declared the area safe DO NOT attempt to operate pipeline valves yourself. You may inadvertently cause more danger or additional damage DO NOT attempt to extinguish a natural gas fire. Wait for local fireman and other trained professionals to deal with such emergencies.
Return to Public Awareness