Water Treatment Plant #1 - Executive Summary

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General Executive Summary for Brownsville Public Utilities Board Water Treatment Plant #1 
 
1.   Accidental Release Prevention and Emergency Response Policies 
We at Water Treatment Plant #1 are strongly committed to employee, public and environmental 
safety.  This commitment is demonstrated by our comprehensive accidental release prevention 
program that covers areas such as design, installation, operating procedures, maintenance, and 
employee training associated with the processes at our facility.  It is our policy to implement 
appropriate controls to prevent possible releases of regulated substances. 
 
 
2.   The Stationary Source and the Regulated Substances Handled 
Our facility's primary activity is potable water treatment.  We have 1 regulated substance present 
at our facility.  This substance is chlorine.  Chlorine is used as a disinfectant. 
 
 
3.   The Worst Case Release Scenario and the Alternative Release Scenario, including 
administrative controls and mitigation measures to limit  
the distances for each reported scenario 
To perform the required offsite consequence analysis for our facility, we have used the EPA's 
Offsite Consequence Analysis (OCA) Guidance Reference Tables and Equations.  The following 
paragraphs provide details of the chosen scenarios. 
 
The worst case release scenario submitted for Program 2 (chlorine toxic substance) involves a 
catastrophic release from our chlorine storage process.  In this scenario 2000 lb. of chlorine is 
released.  The toxic liquid released is assumed to form a 1-cm deep pool from which evaporation takes place.  The entire pool is estimated to evaporate over 10 minutes.  At Class F atmospheric stability and 1.5 m/s wind speed, the maximum distance of 5.4 miles is obtained corresponding to a toxic endpoint of 0.0087 mg/L. 
 
The alternative release scenario for chlorine involves a release from our chlorine injection 
process.  The scenario involves the release of 2000 lb. of chlorine.  Toxic gas is assumed to be 
released from a 
pipe leak.  The estimated time for the pipe to leak all of the cylinder's content is 
60.28 minutes.  A passive mitigation control such as an enclosure is taken into account to 
calculate the scenario.  Under neutral weather conditions, the maximum distance to the toxic 
endpoint of 0.0087 mg/L of chlorine is 0.30 miles. 
 
 
 
 
 
4.   The General Accidental Release Prevention Program and the Chemical-Specific 
Prevention Steps 
Our facility has taken all the necessary steps to comply with the accidental release prevention 
requirements.  This facility was designed and constructed in accordance with TNRCC 290.101 
Rules & Regulations for Public Water Systems.    The following sections briefly describe the 
elements of the release prevention program that is in place at our stationary source. 
 
Process Safety Information 
Water Treatment Plant #1 maintains a detailed record of safety information that describes the 
chemical hazards, operating parameters and equipment designs associated with all process 
es. 
 
Operating Procedures 
For the purposes of safely conducting activities within our covered processes, Water Treatment 
Plant #1 maintains written operating procedures.  These procedures address various modes of 
operation such as initial startup, normal operations, temporary operations, emergency shutdown, 
emergency operations, normal shutdown and startup after a turnaround.  The information is 
regularly reviewed and is readily accessible to operators involved in the processes. 
 
Training 
Water Treatment Plant #1 has a comprehensive training program in place to ensure that 
employees who are operating processes are competent in the operating procedures associated 
with these processes.  Refresher training is provided at least every year and more frequently as 
needed. 
 
Maintenance 
Water Treatment Plant #1 carries out highly documented maintenance checks on process 
equipment to ensure proper operations.  Process equipment examined by these checks includes among others; one ton cylinders, p 
iping systems, relief and vent systems, and controls.  Qualified personnel carry out maintenance operations with previous training in maintenance practices.  Furthermore, these personnel are offered specialized training as needed.  Any equipment deficiencies identified by the maintenance checks are corrected in a safe and timely manner. 
 
 
Compliance Audits 
Water Treatment Plant #1 conducts audits on a regular basis to determine whether the provisions 
set out under the RMP rule are being implemented.  The most recent compliance audit was 
conducted on 02/24/1999.  These audits are carried out at least every 3 years and any corrective actions required as a result of the audits are undertaken in a safe and prompt manner. 
 
Incident Investigation 
Water Treatment Plant #1 promptly investigates any incident that has resulted in, or could 
reasonably result in a catastrophic release of a regulated substance.  These investigations are 
undertaken to identify the situation leading to the incident a 
s well as any corrective actions to 
prevent the release from reoccurring.  All reports are retained for a minimum of 5 years. 
 
 
5.   Five-year Accident History 
Water Treatment Plant #1 has had an excellent record of preventing accidental releases over the 
last 5 years.  Due to our stringent release prevention policies, there has been no accidental release during this period. 
 
 
6.   Emergency Response Plan 
Water Treatment Plant #1 follows a written emergency response plan to deal with accidental 
releases of hazardous materials.  The plan includes all aspects of emergency response including adequate first aid and medical treatment, evacuations, notification of local emergency response agencies and the public. 
 
To ensure proper functioning, our emergency response equipment is regularly inspected and 
serviced.  In addition, the plan is promptly updated to reflect any pertinent changes taking place 
within our processes that would require a modified emergency response. 
 
7.   Planned Changes  
to Improve Safety 
Several developments and findings have resulted from the implementation of the various 
elements of our accidental release prevention program.  Additional training to employees is one 
of the major steps we want to take to improve safety at our facility.
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