Cutting Chemical Risks for Wastewater Treatment

“Thousands of wastewater treatment facilities exist across the United States. Many use toxic chlorine gas to disinfect the water, storing the gas onsite in large tankers. The practice puts surrounding communities at risk from an accidental release or even an attack. Chlorine can burn the eyes, lungs and skin and is fatal in high concentrations. It is so powerful it was used as a chemical weapon by Germany in World War I. Fortunately, cost-effective, safe alternatives to chlorine gas exist, and many plants, especially in the wake of September 11, 2001, have switched to safer disinfectants. Their actions prompted our coalition of citizen and environmental groups to investigate available public information to determine the risk posed to Americans by wastewater treatments plants that persist in using dangerous chemicals, and to alert those populations that are still threatened.”

Article formerly posted at https://www.hsdl.org/blog/newpost/view/s_164