DEEP: Field Tests After Southington Chemical Spill Negative, But Officials Waiting for Lab Results for Final Determination

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A spokesman for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said on Friday that field samples taken from the site of a chemical spill in Southington showed no signs of contamination.

But the environmental agency officials want to wait until early next week and the results of more extensive lab tests before making a final determination, DEEP spokesman Dennis Schain said.

He said that translates to a continued warning that people should not eat fish in a stretch of the Quinnipiac River between West Queen Street downstream to Route 10 – South Main St. – in Southington.

Late Wednesday morning, a release of hexavalent chromium was reported at Light Metals Coloring, 270 Spring St., Southington, according to DEEP Officials. The release was estimated at about 300 gallons, DEEP Officials said.

Hexavalent chromium is linked to long term adverse health impacts – and skin irritations can be an immediate effect of contact with it. Hexavalent chromium is a salt-like substance – associated with public health impacts – that is mixed with liquids as part of the manufacturing process at Light Metals, according to DEEP Officials.

A malfunction in the system at the plant led to liquid containing the chemical to be released through roof vents, according to the DEEP. It then drained off the roof and through roof drains, onto a road surface, a driveway, and soils – and also into a catch basin system which carried some of it out to the nearby Quinnipiac River, officials said.

Road and driveway surfaces as well as soils that were potentially exposed to the hexavalent chromium were dug up and taken away for "proper disposal," Schain said.

The storm drain system was also cleaned and inspected to make certain the waters flowing through it do not carry more of the chemical into the Quinnipiac River, according to DEEP officials.

Sampling to help determine potentially contaminated areas was also conducted in the waters of the Quinnipiac and along its shores, according to a news release.

Southington Water Department officials said Friday "there is nothing wrong" with the the drinking supply, but is reserving comment on the river area until the lab results come in.

Photo Credit: Town of Southington