Updated: Trinseo's latex emulsion spill not impacting Philadelphia drinking water

BRISTOL TOWNSHIP, Pa.—Trinseo P.L.C. and numerous federal and local agencies continue to monitor the March 24 spill of 8,100 gallons of acrylic latex emulsion product into Otter Creek, and ultimately the Delaware River, following an "equipment failure" at a company facility in Bristol.

According to Philadelphia Water Department officials, water samples taken have shown contamination in the Delaware River, but not in the city's water supply.

Officials with the PWD said they are confident that tap water from the Baxter Drinking Water Treatment Plant will remain safe to drink and use at least through March 29. It also expects no residual contamination to the Delaware River through March 30.

The treatment plant is about 13 miles downstream from the Trinseo facility.

PWD expects the issue to be resolved by next week.

"I want to reiterate there was never any contamination in Philadelphia Water Department's system," Michael Carroll, deputy managing director for Philadelphia's Office of Transportation, said in a March 26 press conference available for viewing on the department's Facebook page. "There was contamination in the Delaware River, but we shut off the intake to the river and we're operating off of water that was not contaminated.

"When we opened the intake, we were able to verify that we brought in water that was not contaminated. So, currently, there is no contamination in the Philadelphia system."

This updated guidance from PWD is based on the time it will take the river water that entered the water treatment plant early March 26 to move through the treatment and water mains before it reaches customers.

Residents can see if they are in a potentially impacted area at a map here.

“Teams from Trinseo L.L.C. and our affiliate, Altuglas L.L.C., are continuing to work closely with local, state and federal agencies following an accidental release of latex emulsion product … Friday evening,” Trinseo said in a statement to Rubber News. “Trinseo is conducting an internal review of our facility and will take the necessary steps to address any issues we identify.

“In the meantime we will continue to do all we can to assist in a thorough assessment of environmental impacts. When our standards are not met, we take immediate corrective action, as we are doing in this case.”

Neither the Philadelphia Department of Environmental Protection or the PWD immediately responded to requests for comment from Rubber News.

The PWD's "Tidal Spill Model Tool" is being used to track plume movement and inform residents when the chemical spill will no longer impact the Philadelphia drinking water intakes.

This spill still potentially could affect the water treated at the Baxter Drinking Water Treatment Plant, city of Philadelphia mayor's office officials said March 27.

The Baxter Drinking Water Treatment Plant does not service all of Philadelphia. The city's other two treatment plants draw water from the Schuylkill River, which was not impacted by the spill.

"There is no need to buy water at this time," Carrol said. "Customers can fill bottles or pitchers with tap water with no risk at this time."

This was a reversal of a March 25 statement. At that time, representatives from both the PWD and the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management said "locals may not wish to cook or drink with tap water."

This caused a rush on bottled water in many Bristol Township supermarkets and nearby stores in Bucks County, according to local reports, many of which sold out of bottled water within hours.

According to Trinseo, a pipe burst at the chemical facility operated by its subsidiary Altuglas L.L.C. late March 24. Trinseo cited equipment failure for the incident.

Some of the material from the burst pipe overflowed the on-site containment system and entered a storm drain, which ultimately led to Otter Creek and then into the Delaware River.

No injuries were reported as a result of the release or the cleanup activities.

Two of the chemicals released through the burst pipe were butyl acrylate and ethyl acrylate, both colorless liquids with an acrid odor that are used for making acrylic resins for paints, caulks and adhesives.

The 110-person Altuglas plant that sits just northwest of Philadelphia makes the materials for Trinseo's Engineered Materials business.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the chemicals are hazardous to the lungs and skin. In fact, butyl acrylate was among the hazardous materials aboard the Norfolk Southern train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, Feb. 3.

Trinseo said the fact that the spilled material is 50-percent water and 50-percent latex polymer will help in the dissipation.

"Because the material is highly water soluble, and the release coincided with a period of rainfall, the material dissipated quickly in the water," Trinseo stated in a March 27 news release. "To assess potential impacts, water samples were collected at designated locations.

"Results received to date have not detected the released material."

The Delaware River supplies drinking water to approximately 14 million people across four states, according to the PWD website, and to about 2 million people in the Greater Philadelphia area.

Since the spill occurred in the evening of March 24, Trinseo voluntarily paused operations at the plant "to devote full resources to addressing the release and to conduct a thorough review and analysis of all material-handling processes and equipment at the Bristol facility."

"Trinseo will make improvements as necessary to achieve a standard of environmental excellence that its employees, investors and community expect and that, to date, has been a hallmark of Trinseo's business performance," the company said March 27.

Trinseo added it expects to resume partial production "within the next several days," and to resume full production shortly thereafter.

Trinseo is working to minimize any potential customer impacts.

"We are conducting a thorough assessment of all of our systems and processes to identify and address potential vulnerabilities and will take the steps necessary to close any gaps," Trinseo CEO Frank Bozich said in a March 26 statement. "One of the principles ... is to be accountable and responsive to the public, especially our local communities, who have the right to understand the risks and benefits of what we do.

"The release of material has been stopped and our efforts are now focused on testing the local waterways. We are grateful for the fast response and professionalism of our local first responders, as well as the efforts of the U.S. EPA, the Pennsylvania DEP and the United States Coast Guard."