Older incident (December 1999)prompted current investigation. However, its the sort of problem we were told could occur from y2k issues

Experts to probe water fouling

Source: The Providence Journal Publication date: Feb 16, 2000

&* In December, too much of a chemical used to treat the town's water supply was released into the system. * * *

SWANSEA - The water commissioners have hired a private environmental consulting firm to investigate an incident in December in which the drinking water in part of town became contaminated, causing skin and tissue irritation among Swansea Water District customers.

The incident, which became public this week, saw a sharp rise in the water's pH, a measure of its acid-alkali balance. The pH of chemically pure water is 7. The water district maintains a pH in the system of 7.5 to 9 slightly alkaline to help control corrosion in pipes.

On Dec. 21, the pH on Burnside Drive measured 11.4, high enough to prompt calls from water customers whose skin and other tissues became irritated, according to Water Supt. Robert A. Marquis.

Workers flushed the pipes in the Smoke Rise subdivision, which includes Burnside Drive, and it was back to its normal pH by 6 p.m. that same day, Marquis said.

Marquis said the pH rose when too much of a chemical used to treat the water was released into the drinking supply at Station No. 4 on Bushee Road. The district normally treats the water with sodium hydroxide, which is the main ingredient in household drain cleaners, to keep the pH in the desired range.

On Dec. 21, all 80 gallons of sodium hydroxide that was left in a 300-gallon tank drained into the drinking water, Marquis said. Water officials are unsure what caused the sodium hydroxide to drain into the water system, so the water commissioners voted Monday to hire Prism Environmental, of Westboro, to investigate.

We intend to fully investigate how it did occur, Marquis said.

Marquis said the incident was reported to the town Board of Health and the state Department of Environmental Protection, which regulates public water suppliers.

When the incident occurred, Marquis was on vacation. When he is on vacation, Somerset Water Supt. Robert S. Lima fills in as Swansea's superintendent because both men have the same level of state certification as water plant operators.

Generally though, Swansea foreman Richard Hamm oversees the workings of the plant and assigns tasks to workers, rather than Lima becoming involved at that level. Technically, he's in charge, and I just see to the day-to-day operations, Hamm said Tuesday.

Hamm declined to discuss the sodium hydroxide incident. I probably should just keep my mouth shut until we see what the investigation brings forth, Hamm said. I took the proper steps. We cleaned it up.

The December incident was the second significant problem with the water system last year that happened while Marquis was on vacation and Hamm was in charge of day-to-day operations.

Last summer's water emergency began in June, when Marquis was away and one of the town's two water tanks ran dry. Outside factors, primarily elevated use of lawn sprinklers, were the main cause of that situation.

Hamm, a selectman candidate, said there is no connection to his being in charge during both incidents. I assure you that it is coincidence. Publication date: Feb 16, 2000 ) 2000, NewsReal, Inc.

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-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), February 18, 2000