Dangerous spillages keep happening
Steps taken to improve spill response
Saturday, January 21, 2006
BY JERRY L. GLEASON
Of The Patriot-News
The president of Pennsylvania American Water Co. has apologized to customers for the fluoride spill that left thousands of West Shore residents without water in December. "Please accept our deepest apologies for any inconvenience this caused," Daniel W. Warnock said in a letter mailed this week to the company's customers.
Water was contaminated Dec. 10 when 600 to 700 gallons of hydrofluorosilicic acid used in the fluoridation process spilled at the company's Yellow Breeches Water Treatment Plant in Fairview Twp. The water company issued a do-not-consume advisory for 34,000 home and business customers in 14 municipalities in Cumberland and northern York counties. The advisory was lifted the following day.
Municipal officials and residents complained that they didn't receive proper notification of the spill or the restrictions on water usage. Warnock said the spill was caused by operator error and that policies and procedures that would have prevented it weren't followed.
The company is implementing additional training for employees, including simulated emergency exercises, and has installed a spill detection alarm at the treatment plant, he said. Pennsylvania American also is evaluating its communication practices with the aim of improving the speed with which the company notifies customers of problems, Warnock said. "We are partnering with county emergency preparedness agencies to identify tools to better communicate with customers," he said. One system under consideration is a reverse 911 system, which would call customers with a recorded message about problems with water service. The company is building a state-of-the-art water treatment plant that will replace the Yellow Breeches treatment plant, Warnock said.
JERRY L. GLEASON: 975-9782 or jgleason@patriot-news.com
Saturday, January 21, 2006
BY JERRY L. GLEASON
Of The Patriot-News
The president of Pennsylvania American Water Co. has apologized to customers for the fluoride spill that left thousands of West Shore residents without water in December. "Please accept our deepest apologies for any inconvenience this caused," Daniel W. Warnock said in a letter mailed this week to the company's customers.
Water was contaminated Dec. 10 when 600 to 700 gallons of hydrofluorosilicic acid used in the fluoridation process spilled at the company's Yellow Breeches Water Treatment Plant in Fairview Twp. The water company issued a do-not-consume advisory for 34,000 home and business customers in 14 municipalities in Cumberland and northern York counties. The advisory was lifted the following day.
Municipal officials and residents complained that they didn't receive proper notification of the spill or the restrictions on water usage. Warnock said the spill was caused by operator error and that policies and procedures that would have prevented it weren't followed.
The company is implementing additional training for employees, including simulated emergency exercises, and has installed a spill detection alarm at the treatment plant, he said. Pennsylvania American also is evaluating its communication practices with the aim of improving the speed with which the company notifies customers of problems, Warnock said. "We are partnering with county emergency preparedness agencies to identify tools to better communicate with customers," he said. One system under consideration is a reverse 911 system, which would call customers with a recorded message about problems with water service. The company is building a state-of-the-art water treatment plant that will replace the Yellow Breeches treatment plant, Warnock said.
JERRY L. GLEASON: 975-9782 or jgleason@patriot-news.com
posted by Bill at
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