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PCIntern

(26,744 posts)
Sun Mar 26, 2023, 04:39 PM Mar 2023

Holy fuck: Philly water supply

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.

20 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Holy fuck: Philly water supply (Original Post) PCIntern Mar 2023 OP
Has anyone actually said what was spilled? Hugh_Lebowski Mar 2023 #1
It wasn't hydrogen peroxide... PCIntern Mar 2023 #2
Pipe burst at Trinseo PLC releases hazardous material into Bucks County creek; Coast Guard responds Goonch Mar 2023 #3
Welcome to cilla4progress Mar 2023 #4
Seriously? At midnight suddenly the water is toxic? That's nuts! Lettuce Be Mar 2023 #5
the article says it's water soluble acrylic polymer. mopinko Mar 2023 #6
Most Have Moderately Low... ProfessorGAC Mar 2023 #10
always, always have extra water available Skittles Mar 2023 #7
Yup Runningdawg Mar 2023 #11
yes BlueWaveNeverEnd Mar 2023 #12
Yup. At home and in vehicles. Hortensis Mar 2023 #18
We drive into the country for apx 45 minutes to a mountain spring Iwasthere Mar 2023 #8
A Couple Thoughts ProfessorGAC Mar 2023 #9
We filter our tap water for drinking. (zerowater) Earth-shine Mar 2023 #13
Me, too. Tastes great judesedit Mar 2023 #15
Amazon now has knock-offs of the filter brand. Earth-shine Mar 2023 #16
Yes. I buy them buy the box, also. Not due to reorder yet. judesedit Mar 2023 #17
Where are the Orange jump suits for the CEO & others? RainCaster Mar 2023 #14
same here in Baltimore... Baltimike Mar 2023 #19
Update: PCIntern Mar 2023 #20
 

Hugh_Lebowski

(33,643 posts)
1. Has anyone actually said what was spilled?
Sun Mar 26, 2023, 04:47 PM
Mar 2023

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

(26,744 posts)
2. It wasn't hydrogen peroxide...
Sun Mar 26, 2023, 04:53 PM
Mar 2023

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

Lettuce Be

(2,339 posts)
5. Seriously? At midnight suddenly the water is toxic? That's nuts!
Sun Mar 26, 2023, 04:58 PM
Mar 2023

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

mopinko

(71,562 posts)
6. the article says it's water soluble acrylic polymer.
Sun Mar 26, 2023, 05:00 PM
Mar 2023

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

ProfessorGAC

(69,459 posts)
10. Most Have Moderately Low...
Sun Mar 26, 2023, 05:24 PM
Mar 2023

...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.

Iwasthere

(3,361 posts)
8. We drive into the country for apx 45 minutes to a mountain spring
Sun Mar 26, 2023, 05:14 PM
Mar 2023

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

(69,459 posts)
9. A Couple Thoughts
Sun Mar 26, 2023, 05:19 PM
Mar 2023

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

(4,044 posts)
13. We filter our tap water for drinking. (zerowater)
Sun Mar 26, 2023, 05:46 PM
Mar 2023

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.

 

Earth-shine

(4,044 posts)
16. Amazon now has knock-offs of the filter brand.
Sun Mar 26, 2023, 07:28 PM
Mar 2023

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

(4,506 posts)
17. Yes. I buy them buy the box, also. Not due to reorder yet.
Sun Mar 26, 2023, 07:33 PM
Mar 2023

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

RainCaster

(11,463 posts)
14. Where are the Orange jump suits for the CEO & others?
Sun Mar 26, 2023, 06:06 PM
Mar 2023

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

Baltimike

(4,415 posts)
19. same here in Baltimore...
Sun Mar 26, 2023, 10:36 PM
Mar 2023

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

(26,744 posts)
20. Update:
Mon Mar 27, 2023, 08:14 AM
Mar 2023

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.

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