Response to Questions Concerning the East Palestine Derailment
Barberton’s water supply is from the Barberton Reservoir, which is part of the Upper Wolf Creek watershed. All of the water in our reservoir comes from areas north /northwest of our city. We are not in the zone of influence of contamination from the East Palestine area, and there has been no evidence to suggest that the city’s water supply has been affected. Please see this map of our watershed, as well as the list of FAQs below, for more information.
We are regulated and permitted by the Ohio EPA – our permit specifies what and how often we analyze for compliance.
We collect samples within the plant every 4 hours and run regular quality parameters such as pH, turbidity, and chlorine residual. We also run daily checks on iron, manganese, chloride, fluoride, zinc, orthophosphate, hardness, alkalinity, and bacteria. We also collect daily samples from the distribution system, and run the same tests on the distribution samples as the plant effluent samples. We test a minimum of 40 distribution samples monthly for bacteria, and the samples are reported to the OEPA for compliance. We additionally test once a week for microcystin and cyanobacteria (also referred to as algal toxins).
We are known as a conventional treatment water plant, and we use the following processes to treat the water after it is piped to the plant. They occur in the order listed:
- OXIDATION – We add Potassium permanganate, which is a strong oxidant used to oxidize iron and manganese as well as organics into forms that will precipitate (settle) out during the settling process. We then add Powdered Activated Carbon, which helps improve taste and odor as well as adsorb additional contaminants. (Note – Powdered Activated Carbon is what is given to poisoning victims in emergency rooms)
- COAGULATION – We then add Ferric Chloride, which is an iron-based coagulant used to change the electrical charge of the water. Electrical charges keep contaminants suspended in solution, changing the electrical charge enables the contaminants to clump together.
- FLOCCULATION – The clumped together particles are called floc. Flocculation is a gentle stirring of the water to cause the floc to collide, forming a bigger floc. This occurs in a large basin; the stirring also prevents the floc from settling out too soon to maximize time to gather contaminants.
- SETTLING – The flocculation basin flows into a settling basin. There is no stirring in this large basin. The water moves slowly through here and all the floc (contaminants) settle to the bottom of this basin. There are drains in the settling basin to remove the settled floc on a set schedule.
- FILTRATION – The settled water now is piped to rapid sand filters. We add Sodium Hypochlorite (bleach) to prevent bacterial growth in the filters, and we also add caustic soda to adjust the water pH to help prevent corrosion in the distribution system. The filters contain a 12” layer of anthracite and a 12” layer of silica sand to filter the water. The filtered water collects together in a common pipe and flows to a large basin we call the clear well.
- DISINFECTION – Before entering the Clear Well, we add additional Sodium Hypochlorite (bleach) to provide disinfection of the water. The amount added is determined to be enough to provide a continuous residual of .2 mg/l throughout the distribution system, which is required by law.
During the disinfection step, we also fluoridate the water using HFS (Hydrofluosilicic acid) and add a corrosion control chemical called Zinc Orthophosphate. Fluoridation and corrosion control chemicals are required by law.
We collect samples every four hours at the plant from the filters in use, both before and after. From the raw water entering the plant, and from the finished water leaving the plant. These samples are tested to ensure the treatment processes are operating properly.
We also have various sensors continuously monitoring processes throughout the plant.
This is a map of the Wolf Creek Watershed as well as the continental divide. Our watershed is well isolated with the continental divide to the north, and drains an area with very little industry. We also on occasion use our three wells to supplement the reservoir during dry seasons. All the streams within our watershed originate within this area and are the result of runoff or springs originating in this area. The only manner in which the East Palestine incident could affect our water supply is from the off-gassing and smoke expelled into the atmosphere. We were not located downwind of the incident so no impact can reasonably be expected.
No, we test for contaminants that are required by OEPA. They determine what will be tested based on the potential for it to be present. Testing is performed once a year for a large number of contaminants, and samples are sent to laboratories with personnel certified to perform the required tests. More testing would be required if trace amounts are found during the annual testing.
