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Cause of chlorine leak at wastewater plant still undetermined
and Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
The cause of a chlorine leak at the city’s wastewater treatment facility remains undetermined, but the plant is safe and operating, a city official says.
About 500 pounds of liquid chlorine leaked at the Poland Avenue plant, discovered about 9:10 a.m. Monday.
About 50 wastewater workers were at the treatment facility when the incident occurred, said Charles Shasho, deputy director of the city’s public-works department.
One worker was checked at a hospital as a precaution and released Monday, Shasho said.
The city had to wait for the chlorine to dissipate before allowing workers back inside.
The plant was fully staffed, and roads and nearby businesses that were closed after the leak opened at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Shasho said.
“The plant is functioning,” he said. “We’re still trying to find the cause of the leak.”
Though the plant was evacuated, it continued to run through automation, Shasho said.
“Treatment wasn’t altered in any way during this spill, including chlorination,” he said. “We were on automated control. Our treatment process wasn’t hampered or hindered in any way.”
Chlorine is used as a disinfectant of the wastewater.
The chlorine could be harmful if inhaled at a rapid rate, fire department Battalion Chief Gary Ditullio said Monday.
The plant was built in 1963 and provides primary treatment, clarification and disinfection of wastewater for the city as well as portions of Austintown, Boardman, Liberty and Hubbard.
Fire reports said a cylinder was leaking in Building 20 at the plant and registered 9.2 parts per million. Reports said 10 ppm is considered deadly.
One worker was taken to a hospital to be examined because he was exposed to the gas for several minutes. That worker was taking out garbage when the leak was detected, reports said.
Fans were in use, but reports said the gas was seeping out too fast for the fans to keep up with and vent properly, reports said.