Philadelphia water safe after Trinseo latex emulsion spill

BRISTOL TOWNSHIP, Pa.—According to the Philadelphia Water Department, the city's water supply has not been and will not be affected by the March 24 latex emulsion spill at Trinseo P.L.C. subsidiary Altuglas L.L.C.

The Philadelphia Water Department has concluded its advisories for the 8,100 gallons of acrylic latex emulsion product that spilled into Otter Creek, and ultimately the Delaware River, following an "equipment failure" at Altuglas.

Water from the Baxter Drinking Water Treatment Plant, which sits about 13 miles downstream from the Altuglas facility, is safe to drink, as well as use for cooking and bathing, moving forward.

"Contaminants related to the Bristol Township discharge have never been found in PWD's water system at any point," the agency said. "PWD has determined that Philadelphia's drinking water will not be impacted by the spill in Bucks County."

Trinseo said in a March 27 statement to Rubber News that the company continues to work closely with local, state and federal agencies in the matter.

"Trinseo is conducting an internal review of our facility and will take the necessary steps to address any issues we identify," the company said.

"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."

Trinseo has not returned inquiries from Rubber News seeking comment as to whether the facility has restarted operations. Calls to the Altuglas plant went unanswered March 29.

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

According to Trinseo, a pipe burst at the chemical facility late March 24.

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.

Chemicals tested for in the spill included butyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate and methyl acrylate, according to the PWD.

Butyl acrylate was among the hazardous materials aboard the Norfolk Southern train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, Feb. 3.

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 said March 27 it expected to resume partial production "within the next several days," and to resume full production shortly thereafter.

The company added it is working to minimize any potential customer impacts.