Holy fuck: Philly water supply

[PCIntern]

Last edited Mon Mar 27, 2023, 08:14 AM - Edit history (1)

Philly water is safe to drink until midnight Monday….then….who the fuck knows?

From Philly.com :


After advising residents they may want to switch to bottled water Sunday afternoon following a chemical spill into a Delaware River tributary — setting off a buying spree that emptied store shelves across the city — Philadelphia officials said the city’s tap water would be safe to drink at least through Monday night.
The advisory, which officials initially issued Sunday morning “out of an abundance of caution” in response to Friday night’s release of chemicals from a processing plant in Bucks County, was updated based on sampling results and new estimates of how long it might take water that entered the city’s Baxter Drinking Water Treatment plant early Sunday morning to make its way to residents.
“There is no need to buy water at this time,” city officials said in a statement posted online at 4 p.m. “Customers can fill bottles or pitchers with tap water with no risk at this time.”
The city said tap water would remain safe to drink until at least 11:59 p.m. Monday. Officials said they would update the media Sunday at 5 p.m.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

1. Has anyone actually said what was spilled?

9K gallons really isn't much in comparison to the scale of a large city's water supply, esp. if there's a treatment plant downstream from the spill ... unless you're talking about some real nasty shit that the plant isn't designed to deal with.

[PCIntern]

2. It wasn't hydrogen peroxide...

I think it was Nasty Shit. I’ve been here 70 years and never have I heard of this happening.

[Goonch]

3. Pipe burst at Trinseo PLC releases hazardous material into Bucks County creek; Coast Guard responds

https://6abc.com/coast-guard-us-environmental-protection-agency-pennsylvania-department-of-fish-and-boat-commission/13014583/

[cilla4progress]

4. Welcome to

hell

[Lettuce Be]

5. Seriously? At midnight suddenly the water is toxic? That's nuts!

Sure, do not drink the water, water sells out, it's okay to drink the water, at least until midnight. Lunacy.

[mopinko]

6. the article says it's water soluble acrylic polymer.

not a good idea to drink it, but i dont think very dangerous.
wonder if it’s gonna gum up the works.

[ProfessorGAC]

10. Most Have Moderately Low...

...acute toxicity limits for ingestion.
It will absorb A LOT OF WATER BY WEIGHT, with water forming an easy to filter gel.
So, it shouldn't be a long term toxicity issues, but short term is still a pretty big deal.

[Skittles]

7. always, always have extra water available

yup

[Runningdawg]

11. Yup

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

12. yes

[Hortensis]

18. Yup. At home and in vehicles.

[Iwasthere]

8. We drive into the country for apx 45 minutes to a mountain spring

For the last decade, about once every two months we pick up 60 to 70 gallons of water. We do not trust the city water for drinking. We're in Salem, Oregon. There are so many natural springs around the country. I really feel for those that don't have access though

[ProfessorGAC]

9. A Couple Thoughts

What I think this material might be is a water suspendable polyacrylate. They're used in latex paints to give a harder surface & mimic enamel.
Polyacrylates, before they crossing are known health hazards. Not top level like other dangerous chemicals, but bad, especially by ingestion.
However, I can't be sure & this is what troubles me.
TSCA rules & RTK (Right To Know) requires all toxic substance inventories to be public information.
I would expect even on-the-spot reporting to define the substance by chemical name. If the reporters don't know, I would guess the company hasn't released the information legally consistent with RTK.
Final thought: of all the regulatory agencies enforcing environmental laws, the Coast Guard is easily the strictest. Spilling into a waterway almost always leads to fines & firings.
I personally know of 2 instances of this. In one, the company paid for a cleanup to the Guard's satisfaction, and still got fined a quarter million. Oh, and 9 people lost their jobs, from 2 operators who left a sluice gate (for heavy rainfall drainage) open, to the plant manager, to the EH&S guy (Environmental Healt& Safety) to the corporate compliance officer.
The Coast Guard doesn't play.

[Earth-shine]

13. We filter our tap water for drinking. (zerowater)

We use the "zerowater" system (as advertised on TV). In fact, we use two. We pour one zerowater pitcher into another for double filtration. We do this not so much for the double-play, but because it actually extends the lives of the filters, which are not cheap.

[judesedit]

15. Me, too. Tastes great

Filters last longer that way, too, as you said.

[Earth-shine]

16. Amazon now has knock-offs of the filter brand.

I'm going to try a cheaper filter next time.

We've been paying about $11 per filter, zerowater brand, buying them in bulk.

[judesedit]

17. Yes. I buy them buy the box, also. Not due to reorder yet.

Please keep us posted on the results if you try the other brand. Thanks a bunch.

[RainCaster]

14. Where are the Orange jump suits for the CEO & others?

Those who poisoned the Delaware River need to be brought up on charges for this.

[Baltimike]

19. same here in Baltimore...

or...there was a news dump Friday from the county and the city saying we are helping clean up the Ohio mess by taking on some of their sludge

[PCIntern]

20. Update:

Driving into work this morning, I received a community emergency alert as to the water, and how I should obtain bottled water because after midnight tonight, the water is technically not approved for drinking. Just wow.