City of Fergus Falls Water Treatment Plant - Executive Summary

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The City of Fergus Falls is committed to the implementation of safe procedures regarding chlorine stored at their Water Treatment Plant (WTP).  The facility has an extensive Risk Mangagement Program that follows OSHA and EPA guidelines.  The program emphasizes employee training, emergency response, and equipment inspection/ maintenance. 
 
The WTP stores and utilizes chlorine, which is a regulated substance under this rule.  This substances is stored in one-ton cylinders. The maximum quantity on-site at any given time is 6000 lb.   Chlorine is used for the disinfection of drinking water. 
 
RMPcomp software was used to conduct the worst-case release scenario for chlorine. The analysis calculated an impact radius of 1.3 miles.  This impact radius would result in an off-site impact (members of the pubic could be exposed to toxic concentrations).  
 
For the alternative scenario, the same procedures were used as listed above for the worst-case release scenario.  Additionally, enclosures (e.g. b 
uildings) were considered as passive mitigation measures in the analysis, which reduced the impact of a potential release.   The scenario chosen for analysis was a hole in the liquid space of one of the storage cylinders.  The analysis showed an impact radius of 0.6 miles.  This impact radius would result in an off-site impact.  
 
The WTP's Risk Management Program covers all aspects of safely handling/storing chlorine.   This program requires employees to routinely inspect and maintain all process equipment.   The program requires that employees receive training on all aspects of  process equipment to ensure a safe operating environment, and more importantly, to minimize the possibility of a release. 
 
The WTP has had no accidental releases of chlorine within the past five year.  
 
The facility does not have its own emergency response program.  Response to releases and public notification will be handled by the local fire and police departments. 
 
The facility is in the proce 
ss of reactivating a dialer system that will be capable of notifying personnel of a release during non-working hours.   This will ensure that a release can be identified 24 hours per day.
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