UPDATES:SUMMARY:New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Larry Hajna said “there doesn’t appear to be any immediate, imminent threat” to the area’s water.After exposure to vinyl chloride gas, dozens of people went to ER rooms for first aid. On the train that crashed, the chemical was being transported as a pressurized liquid. When the container broke, some of the chemical reverted to its gas state and some undoubtedly contaminated the water.
-sourceAuthorities said that Mantua Creek was boomed this morning so tidal waters would not stir up contaminated sediment. IMO, this indicates that vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen, is likely in the water.
The Philadelphia Water Department has a computer model that can calculate if a major source of Philadelphia's drinking water (the Baxter Water Treatment Plant) is in eminent danger of contamination from today's vinyl chloride spill.
In November of 2004, there was an oil spill in Paulsboro, which is also the site of the current train crash and spill of vinyl chloride. That oil got within 3 miles of the intake point for drinking water, meaning the oil was able to travel upstream with tidal flows for over 15 miles.
Is vinyl chloride going to contaminate Philly's drinking water? At dangerous levels? Can a release of water from reservoirs help protect this source of drinking water?
--- --- ---
Background Information:
The Baxter Water Treatment Plant treats an average of 200 million gallons a day...Baxter provides water to almost 60% of the City's population. It also serves some parts of Lower Bucks County.
- City of Philadelphia
The Baxter Water Treatment Plant is located in the tidal zone of the Delaware River and can therefore be affected by contaminants moving north to south with the river flow and south to north with the tidal waters.(continued below)Source: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, "Delaware River Watershed Source Water Protection Plan (PWD Baxter Intake – PWSID# 1510001)". 2007. PDF