Chlorine leak at NWC Mona Treatment Plant contained

 

There was a chlorine leak at the National Water Commission's Mona Treatment Plant following a minor explosion involving chlorine tanks on Tuesday morning.

 

No injury was reported.

 

Roger Smith, Chlorination Technician at the NWC, says the incident involved a one tonne chlorine tank which had a worn fusible plug. He says there was a build-up of pressure inside the tank and due to the faulty plug, the contents were released.

 

Firefighters and emergency response teams from the NWC, in Hazmat suits, were quickly dispatched to the treatment plant to deal with the situation.

 

Persons exposed to the chlorine would have noticed a pungent odour and burning of the skin.

 

Mr. Smith said the quick reaction of emergency responders caused the leak to be quickly contained. 

 

"The leak, it is not that serious because we got here on time, so eventually we [got] it under control before it could have started to spread toward the neighbouring community and the school," he said, noting that although others may have smelled the chlorine, "you have different levels of concentration; it depends on where you are. But the nearby persons here would have more likely been affected."

 

Radio Jamaica News understands that two security guards and a forklift operator may have been exposed to the chlorine.