Indiana Wastewater Plant Discharges Ferric Chloride After Spill

Indiana regulators are monitoring a chemical contamination threat in the state.

The Wolcottville wastewater treatment plant spilled wastewater and acidic ferric chloride out of the plant, according to state documents. “Between 1,200 and 1,400 gallons of the chemical was released within the plant,” the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) indicated.

Some of the material was “contained within the facility, but an unknown quantity of the orange colored liquid is being released with the plant’s discharge,” the regulator continued. “Ferric chloride is used in small quantities to treat wastewater.”

Wolcottville Wastewater Superintendent Matt Jordan explained that the problem originated with a broken pipe, according to WANE.

“It started squirting stuff out on the floor of the building and there is a floor drain in there and it went down to our lift station and then that pumps back up to the sewer plant so it went completely through the sewer plant. We’ve never had something like this happen before,” Wolcottville Wastewater Superintendent Matt Jordan said.

Officials worked to dilute the chemical in the environment and have been testing the water.

“The material itself isn’t a hazard if it’s diluted,” IDEM spokesman Dan Goldblatt told The Elkhart Truth. “Since we’re seeing dilution, we don’t think it’ll be a hazard very far down the stream.”

“The chemical had diluted and pH levels in the river were back to normal as little as 20 feet from where the incident occurred,” the report said, citing Goldblatt.

“[Regulators] say people and animals should avoid water near the plant's discharge site,” WSBT reported. IDEM urged residents to stay out of Jones Lake, 21alive reported.

For similar stories, visit Water Online’s Source Water Contamination Solutions Center.