A Major City’s Water Supply Was Just Completely Contaminated, Run On Bottled Water Underway
Officials in Philadelphia are monitoring the city’s water supply following a chemical spill that prompted residents to stock up on bottles of water.
Officials in Philadelphia are monitoring the city’s water supply following a chemical spill that prompted residents to stock up on bottles of the precious liquid. After being advised only to drink the store-bought variety, the Water Department is now encouraging people to store tap water instead. “People can drink their tap water. There’s no need to buy.”
The updated advice was announced by the Deputy Managing Director for the City’s Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability, Mike Carroll. Speaking about the water supply during a virtual news conference, he said folks should store tap water in bottles or pitchers and keep their stores refrigerated. “It will be fine for them to drink,” he added via WHYY PBS.
The water supply advisories come as an estimated 8,100 gallons of a latex emulsion solution spilled from a Bucks County, Pennsylvania plant and flowed into Otter Creek and the Delaware River on March 24th. The spill forced the Philadelphia Water Department to close intakes at its Baxter Drinking Water Treatment Plant.
The water supply intakes were opened in the early hours of March 26th to keep some liquid in the system to prevent equipment damage. While no contaminants were found, officials advised residents to drink bottled out of an “abundance of caution.” Further testing revealed that no contaminants had made their way into the city’s water system.
Still, the messages about the tainted water supply prompted a surge of panic buying. Now, officials are doing their best to assure residents that their tap water is completely safe. “The water currently available to customers was treated before the spill reached Philadelphia and remains safe to drink and use for bathing, cooking, and washing,” a city spokesperson told CNN.
The water supply spill was due to a ruptured pipe at a Trinseo PLC plant known for manufacturing acrylic resins. The equipment failure immediately raised concerns about public health and safety. Speaking about the incident to WHYY PBS, CEO Frank Bozich said none of its 110 employees were injured. The company is also conducting a thorough examination of its infrastructure.
“We are [assessing] all of our systems and processes to identify and address potential vulnerabilities and will take the steps necessary to close any gaps,” Bozich told the publication. He added that the release of all toxic materials had been stopped. The company is now focusing on testing the local water supply to ensure its safety.
The chemicals which spilled into the Delaware River include butyl acrylate, which is used in paint, sealants, and adhesives. Following a Norfolk Southern train derailment, the same toxin was released in East Palestine, Ohio. Other chemicals possibly contaminating the water supply include Ethel acrylate and methyl methacrylate.
The Delaware River meets tidewater at Trenton, New Jersey, about 130 miles above its mouth. Its total length is about 405 miles, with a drainage basin area of 13,539 square miles. It encompasses 42 counties and 838 municipalities in Delaware, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Over the years, the river has seen improvements in its water supply quality, with an increase in fish and wildlife.
The latex emulsion solution’s spill into Otter Creek reminds us of the importance of protecting our natural water supply and waterways. The Philadelphia Water Department’s quick action to close intakes at its Baxter Drinking Water Treatment Plant on the Delaware River following the spill is commendable.
