Emergency crews in New Hampshire on Monday contained an unidentified oil spill at Sunapee Harbor, less than a week after containing a hydraulic oil spill in a separate area.
At 4:16 p.m., the Sunapee Fire Department confirmed a visible oil spill affecting portions of the harbor in a statement.
The spill was visible near the Indian Cave Docks, The Blue Canoe, and on the shoreline near the Wild Goose Country Store, according to the statement.
Fire crews searched the surrounding area but could not find the source of the spill, according to the department.
But there is likely no danger to water from the lake that contributes to the public drinking water supply, an official said.
“At this time, we believe it is very unlikely that the oil floating on the lake’s surface will reach the water intake pipe, which is approximately 30 feet below the surface,” David Bailey, Sunapee Water and Sewer superintendent, said in a statement Tuesday.
The substance may be gear oil or hydraulic oil, based on initial observations by the Fire Department and photographic review by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.
A sample of the substance was collected for analysis, according to the statement.
The spill was fully contained at 5:40 p.m., according to the statement.
Officials used equipment including containment booms — floating barriers — to prevent the spill from spreading into Lake Sunapee or from traveling downstream, the Fire Department said.
Crews began initial cleanup operations but stopped as it grew dark. They will return Tuesday to continue cleanup and assess affected areas, officials said.
Containment booms will remain in place until then.
The department is asking the public not to move, adjust, or remove the containment booms until cleanup operations are complete.
It was the second spill in less than a week at Sunapee.
Last Wednesday at 1:37 p.m., there was a hydraulic oil spill at the West Docks off Garnet Street, after a crane being used to remove boats “ruptured” a hydraulic line, the Fire Department said in an earlier statement.
Fire crews were able to contain that spill and begin cleanup, according to that statement.
“There is no known risk to the Town of Sunapee’s water supply as a result of this incident,” the department said in the statement.
The state Department of Environmental Services and Sunapee Water and Sewer were notified of both incidents.
Neither department could immediately be reached for comment Monday evening.
Sunapee Harbor at Lake Sunapee is a popular resort and commercial area in the western part of the state.
Madyline Swearing can be reached at madyline.swearing@globe.com.