Stettler using stored water supply after diesel spills into Red Deer River

The Town of Stettleris using its stored water supply after a semi rolled off a nearby highway and spilled fuel into a creek that flows into the Red Deer River.

The crash happened around 3:30 p.m. Thursday when the northbound semi, hauling two tanker trailers, lost control and rolled off Highway 21, about 1.6 kilometres south of Highway 11, near Content Bridge, according to police.

• MORE ALBERTA NEWS |Fort Mac fires take toll as province's unemployment rate jumps to 7.8%
• MORE ALBERTA NEWS |NDP convention in Calgary will be party's first in the spotlight

"One tanker unit tipped over; the other one remained upright," said Niki Thorsteinsson, a spokeswoman for the town.

An unknown amount of diesel fuel spilled into the creek. First responders tried to mitigate the spill by blocking off the creek with booms and a berm.

In response, the town started drawing water to its treatment plant from a storage pond instead of the Red Deer River.

Thorsteinsson said the pond has enough water to supply the town for about 10 days.

Clean-up of the spill continued Friday and the river's water quality will be reassessed.

"It is not anticipated regular water treatment will be affected for any long term duration," the town said in a release.