MARCH 25, 2015
SAINT PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
A sulfur dioxide leak at the South Cross Bayou Wastewater
Treatment was patched up Wednesday afternoon.
Sulfur dioxide is commonly used at treatment plants during
the dechlorination of wastewater. When sulfur dioxide contacts water, it
produces sulfuric acid. It is very toxic
if inhaled and can cause death. It is
corrosive if it comes in contact with skin or eyes. It will irritate or burn the skin/eyes.
The hazmat team was investigating the incident.
Hazmat units responded to the leak in the one ton cylinder
just before noon and crews were able to patch it around 2 p.m.
The leak was confined to the building and systems in place
were working, according to a statement from the Lealman Fire Dept. There was no
leak outside of the building.
Employees at the building on 54th Ave. in Lealman were
evacuated as a precaution. Traffic was shut down at 54th Ave. between
Belcher Rd. and Park St. but the roads have since been reopened.
There was no word on what caused the leak. No injuries were
reported.
The South Cross Bayou Wastewater Treatment Facility is
located at 5900 74th Street North in Saint Petersburg, FL and has had serious
violation(s) over the past three years.
7 quarter(s) of Clean Water Act violations - resulting in 2
enforcement action and $293,460 in fines.
There is a population of 3,481 people (11% minorities)
within a 3 mile radius of the facility.