Simmons Water Treatment Plant - Executive Summary |
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The Risk Management Program implemented at the City of Griffin's Simmons Water Treatment Plant integrates technologies, procedures and management practices to monitor potential chlorine hazards and to minimize the risk of an accidental chlorine release. The plan addresses procedures and steps to provide employee safety, public health and response agency interaction. The plan is summarized in a manual, which is maintained on site. The manual not only contains information relating to the safe handling of chlorine and emergency response actions, but also provides the framework for maintaining and operating chlorination equipment, conducting training programs, and completing incident investigations and compliance audits. The Risk Management Program includes the following elements: Accessible chlorine safety information Written operating procedures Written maintenance, inspection and cleaning procedures Operator training Chlorination safety equipment (leak detector) Safe design of chlorin ation system Hazard review of equipment and procedures Compliance auditing Emergency response coordination The Simmons Water Treatment Plant utilizes chlorine to provide a disinfection residual. The facility maintains an inventory of 10,000 pounds of chlorine in five one-ton containers. The chlorination system consists of container mounted regulators, chlorinators, automatic switchover unit, injectors and a leak detector and alarm. Since the piping from the injectors to the regulators is under vacuum, any failure in the piping system would break the vacuum thereby limiting any potential release. Because the regulators are mounted directly on the ton containers, nearly all of the chlorination piping is protected this way. The worst case scenario involves failure of a one-ton container yielding a release of 2,000 pounds of chlorine over a ten minute time period. Based on this release, a wind speed of 1.5 m/s, and an atmospheric stability class F, the distance to the toxic endpoint wa s calculated as 1.3 miles. Public receptors include residences, schools, recreational areas, and commercial/industrial areas. No environmental receptors were located. The alternative case scenario involves failure of a one-ton container yielding a release of 2,000 pounds of chlorine over a ten minute time period. The alternative scenario utilized a wind speed of 3 m/s and an atmospheric stability class of D. The distance to the toxic endpoint was calculated as 0.3 miles. Public receptors include residences, schools, recreational areas, and commercial/industrial areas. No environmental receptors were located. In support of the probability that a worst case accidental release will not occur, a review of the process history indicates that no reportable accidental releases have occurred within the past five years. The facility's emergency response plan is coordinated through the Griffin Fire Department. |