Chemical phosphate spills from tank in Ventura.
Phosphate is used to prevent corrosion in pipelines Staff reports 8:27 p.m. PDT September 28, 2016
(Photo: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/CITY OF VENTURA FIRE DEPARTMENT)
CRITICAL INCIDENT NOTIFICATION - FINAL UPDATE (3:20 PM): The spill was determined to be released from the Ventura Water Saticoy conditioning facility on Telephone Road at Wells. The material is a conditioning agent used to inhibit corrosion in the water system pipe ways. It only poses a health hazard when in very high concentrations. Approximately 400 gallons of the material was released and had migrated approximately 1/4 mile from the facility towards the Santa Clara River however was stopped before reaching the river. Ventura Water is working with California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Ventura County Environmental Health to mitigate the problem and complete cleanup. There's been no reported injuries and there are expected to be no further environmental impacts. Traffic has been opened up in the area and is flowing normally. There are no further updates anticipated.
About 400 gallons of a chemical leaked from a tank at a water-conditioning facility Wednesday in Ventura, officials said.
The spill was reported about 12:50 p.m. in the 10900 block of Telephone Road, according to fire officials.
The chemical was housed in a 1,000-gallon tank at the Saticoy Water Conditioning Facility near Telephone and Wells roads, according to fire officials. The chemical was identified as phosphate, which is commonly used to prevent corrosion in water pipes, and it does not pose a health concern to the community, the city said.
A staff member from Ventura Water noticed about 9:30 a.m. during a routine inspection that there was a problem at the tank's outlet pipe, the city said. The employee immediately started the incident response procedure, the city said.
The chemical traveled about a quarter-mile away from the facility and spilled into the Brown Barranca, which runs between Highway 126 and Telegraph Road, west of Wells Road, the city said. Brown Barranca drains into the Santa Clara River, which then drains to the Pacific Ocean.
Crews with the city of Ventura Fire Department created a dirt berm to contain the spill, the city said. Ventura Water was working with the Ventura County Environmental Health Division to assess possible environmental impacts and determine cleanup requirements, the city said.
Patriot Environmental Services began skimming the chemical residue from the barranca on Wednesday to minimize the flushing that was expected to begin Thursday, the city said.
Ventura police responded to assist with a brief road closure.
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Small Chemical Spill From Water Treatment Facility In Ventura County
By Lance Orozco • Sep 29, 2016
A problem with an outlet pipe is being blamed for a chemical discharge into a barranca from a South Coast water treatment facility.
City of Ventura officials say Ventura Water Department works making a routine inspection discovered a chemical flow coming from the Saticoy Water Conditioning facility in Saticoy around 9:30 yesterday morning. About 400 gallons of phosphate, which is used to prevent corrosion in pipelines, was found in the barranca near Telephone and Wells Roads.
A dirt berm was used to stop the chemical’s flow. Officials say the spill doesn’t pose a health risk. Crews worked to pump out the barranca yesterday, and will conduct a flushing operation today.
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Crews respond to Saticoy Water Conditioning Facility discharge at Telephone Road and Wells Road intersection
09/28/2016
For Immediate Release
September 28, 2016
Contact: Shana Epstein, 805-652-4518
Craig Jones, 805-223-4379
Crews respond to Saticoy Water Conditioning Facility discharge at Telephone Road and Wells Road intersection
Ventura Water, Ventura Police Department, Ventura City Fire and allied agencies responded to a non-hazardous chemical discharge from the Saticoy Water Conditioning Facility today. The substance has been identified as Phosphate (commonly used to prevent corrosion in water system pipes) and the quantity released (400 gallons) does not pose a health concern to the community.
At 9:30 a.m. Ventura Water staff conducting a daily routine inspection observed and reported a failure at the outlet pipe. The staff member immediately activated the incident response procedure.
Location: Telephone Road and Wells Road intersection, released from the Saticoy Water facility, traveled ¼ mile from the facility into the adjacent barranca. Crews established a dirt berm to successfully contain the release and prevent additional flows.
Cleanup: Ventura Water is working with Ventura County Environmental Health to assess any possible environmental impacts and determine cleanup requirements. Patriot Environmental Services began skimming the residual Phosphate today from the barranca in order to minimize the flushing that will begin tomorrow.
No road closures: After a brief road closure the roads have re-opened and traffic in the area is flowing normally.
If customers have any questions or need additional information, please contact Ventura Water Customer Care at (805) 667-6500 or myvtawater@cityofventura.net.
This media release is available on the City of Ventura website, www.cityofventura.net.-- ### --