Kleinwood Central Wastewater Treatment Plant - Executive Summary

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The Kleinwood Central Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is a publicly owned wastewater treatment facility in northwest Harris County.  The facility serves Cypress Forest Public Utility District, Cy-Champ Public Utility District, Harris County Water Control & Improvement District No. 114, Louetta North Public Utility District, Kleinwood Municipal Utility District and Klein Independent School District.  Each of these entities participates in the Kleinwood Joint Powers Board, which has authority to make all policy and procedural decisions for the facility.  A contract operations company operates the facility. 
 
Kleinwood Central WWTP utilizes two toxic chemicals, chlorine and sulfur dioxide, to disinfect treated plant effluent.  Chlorine and sulfur dioxide are stored on site in 2,000-pound steel cylinders.  The chemical feed equipment is used to measure and apply the chemicals to the treated effluent for disinfection.  There are no administrative controls or active mitigation systems in pl 
ace at Kleinwood Central WWTP that would affect consideration of the release scenarios discussed below. 
 
As part of the Risk Management Program, Kleinwood Central WWTP has established a prevention program to identify potential hazards and implement operational and maintenance procedures to reduce the risk of an accidental release.  The facilities used at Kleinwood Central WWTP are designed and constructed in accordance with applicable ANSI, ASTM, and ASME standards.  The prevention program includes annual hazard reviews, on-going safety training for personnel, daily equipment inspection and annual preventative maintenance.  A system has been established to investigate any hazardous incident related to the chemical storage and feed system.  Kleinwood Central WWTP has also established a compliance audit team to review the on-going prevention program and update the program as necessary to provide continued protection to the facility employees and the surrounding community. 
 
The Kleinwood  
Central WWTP has not had any accidental releases of a regulated toxic substance that caused any on-site or offsite effects within the past five years. 
 
As part of the Risk Management Program, Kleinwood Central WWTP has developed three scenarios to evaluate the possible effects of an accidental release and assist emergency personnel to respond appropriately.  The "worst-case scenario" and the two "alternative release scenarios" were developed using the EPA's "RMP Guidance for Wastewater Treatment Plants." 
 
The worst-case scenario for the facility is based on the release of an entire 2,000-pound cylinder of chlorine over a period of 10 minutes.  This scenario could have hazardous effects up to 1.3 miles downwind of the vessel.  Within 1.3 miles of the facility, there are homes, schools, businesses, recreation areas and day care centers that could be affected by the worst-case release. 
 
The alternative scenario for a chlorine release is based on a 1/2-inch diameter rust hole on a chlorine 
storage vessel.  This scenario could have hazardous effects up to 0.4 miles downwind of the vessel.  The alternative sulfur dioxide release is based on the failure of a 1/2-inch diameter pressure valve on a sulfur dioxide storage vessel.  This scenario could also have hazardous effects up to 0.4 miles downwind of the release point. 
 
The Klein Community Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) is the local emergency responder responsible for handling an accidental chemical release at Kleinwood Central WWTP.  The emergency contact number for this agency is 911.  Kleinwood Central WWTP has coordinated and provided a copy of the Risk Management Program for the facility to the Klein Community VFD and the Harris County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) for Unincorporated Areas.
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