Delaware water safe from Philadelphia-area chemical spill into Delaware River: Officials

Krys'tal Griffin, Delaware News Journal
·2 min read
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Delaware residents should not be affected by a chemical spill in Philadelphia that left portions of the Delaware River polluted, officials said Monday.

Approximately 8,100 gallons of latex finishing material, a water-soluble acrylic polymer solution, was spilled into Otter Creek, a tributary of the Delaware River, just before midnight on Friday, March 24, with the Coast Guard estimating as many as 12,000 gallons were released, according to Philadelphia Water Department.

Aerial view of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. A governmental agency created by compact in 1962, the Delaware River and Bay Authority owns and operates the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry and the Forts Ferry Crossing.
Aerial view of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. A governmental agency created by compact in 1962, the Delaware River and Bay Authority owns and operates the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry and the Forts Ferry Crossing.

The cause for the spill was a pipe rupture at the Altuglas plant in Bristol Township that spilled the hazardous liquid into a storm sewer, the company confirmed to WHYY News.

Same chemical released in Ohio

Chemicals released into the Delaware River include the same chemical released into a river in East Palestine, Ohio, after the Norfolk Southern train derailment, butyl acrylate, along with ethel acrylate and methyl methacrylate, chemicals used in the manufacture of plastics and coatings like latex paint.

Just before midnight Sunday, the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services announced on Twitter that the state’s drinking water was not affected and no further caution was advised for Delaware residents.

MAPS AND TIMELINE: The latex chemical spill that threatened drinking water in Philadelphia

The Brown's Shoprite in Bensalem, Pa., was nearly out of bottled water Sunday afternoon. Supermarket shelves in Lower Bucks were empty Sunday afternoon after Philadelphia officials issued a drinking water advisory after chemicals that spilled in Bristol entered a Delaware River tributary.
The Brown's Shoprite in Bensalem, Pa., was nearly out of bottled water Sunday afternoon. Supermarket shelves in Lower Bucks were empty Sunday afternoon after Philadelphia officials issued a drinking water advisory after chemicals that spilled in Bristol entered a Delaware River tributary.

“DE drinking water has not been impacted by the chemical spill in a tributary of the Delaware River in Bristol, PA. Water treatment facilities that service DE do not take in water directly from the DE River. There is no impact to Delawareans at this time,” read the tweet from DHSS.

The bottled water advisory issued by the city of Philadelphia applies only to residents who live east of the Schuylkill River.

The Water Department released a map over the weekend showing which areas were potentially impacted by the spill and which were safe to continue using their water as normal.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Philly chemical spill no impact on Delaware water: Officials