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The Lowermoor water treatment plant received surface water run-off from Bodmin Moor and delivered treated water to the North Cornwall distribution network. The raw water is slightly acidic (low pH) and has a relatively intense brown colour caused by presence of suspended organic matter. Pre-treatment includes addition of aluminium sulphate flocculant to remove suspended solids and dissolved organic acids, and slaked lime to adjust pH. On the date of the incident, a temporary tanker driver inadvertently unloaded 20 tonnes of aluminium sulphate flocculant into a chlorine contact tank instead of a storage tank at the unmanned Lowermoor plant, causing the substance to enter the distribution system. The town residents complained of sore throats, vomiting, bowel problems, joint pains and short-term memory loss. The water authority who operated the plant advised the public that the water was safe to drink.
Ask yourself and your crew:
- How can something like this happen here (e.g. on our site)?
- What safety measures (i.e. procedures, controls/barriers) do we have in place to mitigate the risk?
- How do we know the risk controls/barriers are working?
- What improvements or changes should we make to the procedures, controls/barriers or the way we work?
Original content courtesy of IChemE Safety Centre
