West Morgan-East Lawrence Water Treatment Plant - Executive Summary |
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WEST MORGAN-EAST LAWRENCE WATER TREATMENT PLANT The West Morgan-East Lawrence Water Treatment Plant is a publicly owned water clarification facility that is operated and maintained by the West Morgan-East Lawrence Water Authority. The plant is located adjacent to the Tennessee River in Hillsboro, Alabama, on the northern border of Lawrence County. Water is treated for a variety of purposes, including removal of pathogenic microorganisms, tastes and odors, color and turbidity, dissolved minerals, and harmful organic materials. The treatment process includes physical and chemical methods, both of which determine the quality of the finished water. Water contains many microorganisms, some of which cause disease. The possibility exists that some of these microorganisms might pass through the treatment plant or might enter the water after treatment. The destruction of pathogenic bacteria in water has always been of primary concern in the treatment of potable water. For this reason, p ublic water supplies in the United States and most of the world are treated with disinfectants to provide additional protection against transmission of disease. Chlorine, in a variety of chemical forms, has been the disinfectant most commonly used in the United States, while chlorine gas in the most commonly used form of chlorine. Chlorine is a powerful oxidizing agent that is easy to use, inexpensive, and reliable. A principle advantage of chlorination over other forms of disinfection is that a chlorine residual is created that can protect the treated water after leaving the treatment plant, allowing for a lower total of volume of disinfectant required. Chlorine is shipped, in liquid form, in pressurized steel cylinders ranging in size from 100 pounds to one ton. It is recommended that treatment facilities keep an adequate reserve of chlorine for disinfection so that public service can be maintained regardless of equipment servicing or maintenance requirements. The West Morgan -East Lawrence Water Treatment Plant keeps six ton-cylinder vessels of chlorine in storage at any given time, or the equivalent of 12,000 pounds. Chlorine is a greenish-yellow gas that has a suffocating odor, and is slightly soluble in water. The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that acute exposure to high levels of chlorine in humans can result in chest pain, edema, and, in extreme cases, death. At a lower level, chlorine is a potential irritant to the eyes, upper respiratory tract, and lungs. In addition to these human concerns, the moist gas is also corrosive, therefore chlorine, chlorinators, and piping carrying gaseous chlorine under pressure are located in a separate room in the plant. Positive ventilation to the outside air is provided, with an outlet near the floor since chlorine is heavier than air. An automatic chlorine detector connected to an alarm is also utilized. Implementing these and other safety measures, the West Morgan-East Lawrence Water Trea tment Plant has not had one accidental release of chlorine since its inception, while maintaining round-the-clock operation to provide the public with the highest quality water available. Should an emergency situation ever arise as a result of a catastrophic chlorine gas release, computer models (RMPComp)provided by the Environmental Protection Agency indicate that in a worst-case scenario (quantity released is maximum capacity of largest vessel), gas dispersion could occur anywhere in an approximate three mile radius around the plant. This radius is based on assumptions made by conservative calculations and estimations, such as wind speed, atmospheric conditions, terrain, amount of chemical released, etc., and could be considerably less under normal circumstances. Although such an event is highly unlikely and unusual, especially with any off-site consequences, it is in the best interest of all those involved in both the plant and surrounding community to consider and plan for an em ergency worse-case scenario, since proper preparedness is often the key to overall safety. Such an emergency plan can also be effective in illustrating to the public the vast steps already taken by the West Morgan-East Lawrence Water Treatment Plant in their continuous evaluation of and improvements to safety and protection of human health and the surrounding environment. The West Morgan-East Lawrence Water Treatment Plant will also continuously search for ways to help its employees improve their safety performance, continue its coordination with local emergency responders, and utilize updated training methods, thus continuously reducing any risk to society from the release of this critically important chemical. An Emergency Response Plan (ERP) has been prepared specifically for the West Morgan-East Lawrence Water Treatment Plant in accordance with OSHA standard 191.38. It has been developed as a part of the Risk Management Program to provide a planned and organized response to a major or catastrophic chlorine gas release. The ERP will also serve as a site specific action plan in the event of fire, accidental injury, or any other emergency that may require the assistance of Emergency Responder Units. This plan applies to any and all emergencies that could be reasonably expected in the workplace, and is written primarily for plant employees, in that after notification is given to the local emergency management authorities, further actions required would be indicated under the appropriate response plan of the associated agencies involved. EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN COORDINATORS The ERP coordinators are as follows: Home Phone Pager Mobile Phone Stanley Self - Plant Op. Manager (256)773-3498 (256)219-9789 (256)303-2855 Don Sims - General Manager (256)773-5904 (256)351-3119 (256)303-2904 Jimmy Willingham - Op. Manager (256)350-1991 (256)219-2411 (256)303-2856 The coordinators of the ERP may be contacted at any time for further information on, or explanation of this plan. ELEMENTS OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN I. Reporting fires, Emergencies, Major Chemical Release All fires, emergencies, or major chemical releases are to be reported by one of the following means: A. verbally to an ERP coordinator if during day shift work hours B. by phone or radio 911 if after day shift, on weekends, or holidays The following numbers are to be posted at all phones having outside lines: Home Phone Pager Mobile Phone Stanley Self - Plant Op. Manager (256)773-3498 (256)219-9789 (256)303-2855 Don Sims - General Manager (256)773-5904 (256)351-3119 (256)303-2904 Jimmy Willingham - Op. Manager (256)350-1991 (256)219-2411 (256)303-2856 Hillsboro Fire Dept 911 Lawrence County EMA (Champion Hazmat) 911 II. Warning System Requirements An emergency warning system is currently in place in the West Morgan-East Lawrence Water Treatment Plant. Guidelines for the warning system should be as follows: A. warning system should provide adequate time for safe evacuation B. warning system should be perceived by all employees C. warning system alarm should be distinctive and recognizable D. employees should be properly trained in emergency procedures E. emergency phone numbers should be posted in designated areas F. emergency alarms should have priority at all times G. warning system should be properly maintained by trained personnel III. Evacuation Plans A. In the event of a major fire in any area of the West Morgan-East Lawrence Water Treatment Plant, employees should immediately evacuate that building or plant area (on-site). After seeking safety, employees are to call 911 for Hillsboro Fire and Rescue assistance, then immediately notify a coordinator of the ERP. B. In the event of a minor chlorine gas release, employees are to evacuate the immediate area of the release, especially the chlorine process area (on-site). After seeking safety, employees are to call 911 for Hillsboro Fire and Rescue assistance, then immediately notify a coordinator of the ERP. C. In the event of a major or catastrophic release of chlorine gas that has a detectable odor in any area outside of the immediate chlorine process area, or if there is a visible yellowish-green chlorine vapor cloud present outside of the immediate area of the chlorine process, employees are to immediately evacuate the plant (off-site). After seeking safety, employees are to radio 911 for Hillsboro Fire and Rescue assistance, then immediately notify a coordinator of the ERP. IV. Employee Accountability Procedures After Evacuation On-site Evacuation of a Building or Plant Area In the event of a major fire, all employees will promptly evacuate the building or area by the nearest designated fire exit or otherwise safest route. If the evacuation is an on-site evacuation of a building or area within the plant, an employee should contact the First Responder Unit (911), then immediately notify a coordinator of the ERP. Employees will then immediately go to the pre-designated rallying point and report to their supervisor. Designated On-site Rallying Points: Primary location: Plant Control Room / Lab Secondary location: Plant Entrance Main Gate at County Road 400 Off-site Evacuation In the event of a major or catastrophic release of chlorine gas, including a detectable chlorine odor outside of the immediate area of the chlorine process, or a visible chlorine gas cloud, employees are to evacuate the plant and immediately radio the West Morgan-East Lawrence Water Authority office to call First Responder Units. The rallying point for off-site evacuation is the Plant Entrance Main Gate at County Road 400. Employees must report to t heir supervisor. Designated Off-site Rallying Point: Plant Main Entrance Gate at County Road 400 V. Re-entry Once the building or plant area has been evacuated, no employee is to re-enter said area for any reason, excluding designated and properly trained Rescue personnel. When First Responder Units or other responsible agencies have notified an ERP coordinator that we may re-enter, then and only then should personnel return to their designated work area. VI. Employee Training Employee training or subsequent notification should be provided: A. when the ERP is initiated B. when there are any subsequent changes to the plan C. for all new plant employees D. as a refresher course Annual Hazard Review Elements A. emergency evacuation procedures B. evacuation route assignments C. fire extinguisher locations, training, and proper use D. procedures to account for employees E. major workplace hazards F. employee trainin g programs G. fire prevention practices H. when to close or cordon off plant areas I. means of reporting fire, chemical, and other emergencies J. current names and numbers of ERP coordinators K. warning system L. housekeeping M. availability of ERP N. hazardous weather procedures VII. Hazardous Weather Emergency Plan In the event of a National Weather Service (NOAA) tornado watch for the Hillsboro area, an ERP coordinator should advise all employees in the plant of the possibility of severe weather. Employees should then monitor current weather information. In the event of a National Weather Service (NOAA) tornado warning for the Hillsboro area, or if the local Emergency Management Agency advises that shelter should be taken, or if tornado warning sirens are activated, all employees must take shelter in any of the pre-designated tornado refuge areas. Employees must remain in the tornado refuge area until the danger has passed and the EMA gives the all-clear. |