BWWP Whitlock Water Treatment Plant - Executive Summary

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BWWP WHITLOCK WATER TREATMENT PLANT 
 
Executive Summary 
 
Release Prevention and Emergency Response Policies 
The Board of Water Works of Pueblo, Colorado City of Loveland, Colorado (BWWP) 
takes an active approach in maintaining and improving chemical safety.  The BWWP has 
emphasized its commitment to safety by holding monthly shift meetings emphasizing 
safety, and have been rewarded in this approach by having no accidental releases of 
chlorine or anhydrous ammonia within the last five years. 
 
Facility and Regulated Substance 
The Whitlock WTP is located at 1920 West 11th Street, on the west side of Pueblo near the 
Arkansas River.  Chlorine and anhydrous ammonia are used at the WTP to provide 
disinfection of the public water supply.  The primary and filter plant chlorination processes 
store chlorine in one-ton cylinders, and no more than 30 cylinders of chlorine (60,000 
pounds) are stored at the WTP, 26 cylinders (52,000 pounds) in the primary chlorination 
process and 4 cylinders (8,000 po 
unds) in the filter plant chlorination process. 
Anhydrous ammonia is stored within four 2,000 gallon storage tanks for a maximum 
storage capacity of 8,000 gallons (35,200 gallons). 
 
Worst Case and Alternative Case Release Scenarios 
The worst case release scenario for both the primary and filter plant chlorination 
processes involves the loss of 2,000 pounds of chlorine from a single cylinder of chlorine 
outside of any enclosure.  The rule for worst case release analysis assumes all of the 
contents are released in 10 minutes.  The alternative case release scenario for both the 
primary and filter plant chlorination processes was based on accident history at the site, 
process hazard analysis, and experience at similar facilities, and involves the release of 
1,550 pounds of chlorine in 10 minutes as a result of a crack in the cylinder caused by 
a drop from a forklift.  The distance to endpoint for both scenarios were analyzed using 
RMP*Comp, and the analyses resulted in a worst case release 
scenario distance to 
endpoint of 1.3 miles and an alternative case release scenario distance to endpoint of 0.2 
miles. 
 
The worst case release scenario for the anhydrous ammonia process involves the loss 
of 8,800 pounds of chlorine from a single anhydrous ammonia storage tank in 10 minutes. 
The alternative case release scenario for the anhydrous ammonia process was based on 
accident history at the site, process hazard analysis, and experience at similar facilities, 
and involves the release of 4,350 pounds of chlorine in 30 minutes as a result of a pump 
seal failure on the tanker truck during filling operations.  The distance to endpoint for both 
scenarios were analyzed using RMP*Comp, and the analyses resulted in a worst case 
release scenario distance to endpoint of 1.2 miles and an alternative case release 
scenario distance to endpoint of 0.1 miles. 
 
Accidental Release Prevention Program 
The accidental release prevention program complies with the requirements for Program 
Level 2 proc 
esses.  The prevention program includes an employee training program 
based on the written operating procedures for the WTP, as well as a maintenance, 
inspection, and testing program for equipment utilized within the covered processes. 
These programs all serve to prevent or minimize unintended releases of chlorine and 
anhydrous ammonia. 
 
Five-Year Accident History 
The WTP has not had an accidental release of chlorine or anhydrous ammonia within the 
last five years. 
 
Emergency Response Program 
The WTP is included within a written community emergency response plan, and the 
primary responder to the WTP is the City of Pueblo Fire Department.  WTP employees 
handle incidental releases of chlorine and anhydrous ammonia and are trained and 
equipped to do so.
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