Town, Environmental Officials Studying Impact of Chemical Spill in Southington

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said Thursday that people should not eat fish taken from a stretch of the Quinnipiac River in Southington until results from water quality tests are available to assess the impact of a Wednesday chemical spill from a plant near the river in that town.

“We recommend that people not eat any fish taken from the Quinnipiac between West Queen Street and downstream to Route 10 – South Main St. – in Southington until we have an opportunity to determine the extent of any lingering contamination in the river resulting from a chemical release yesterday,” DEEP Deputy Commissioner Susan Whalen said.

The Route 10/South Main Street portion of the river is downstream from where the Eight Mile River flows into the Quinnipiac and adds a significant volume of new water to it.

Deputy Commissioner Whalen said, “Water and soil sediment samples are being taken from the Quinnipiac today and we expect to have results to look at tomorrow. This will allow us to assess the effect of the chemical release on aquatic life in those waters.”

Regulations governing fishing designate the Quinnipiac River, as it flows through Southington, as a Wild Trout Management Area, where any trout caught by anglers must be released. It is possible, however, to catch other species of fish in those waters – which anglers are allowed to take.

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

The DEEP is advising the public to stay away from the banks of the Quinnipiac River in this immediate area, because of the potential for contact with hexavalent chromium in the soils there. 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.

DEEP emergency response personnel responded to the scene and remain there today to supervise cleanup efforts of an environmental cleanup contractor hired by the company. Road and driveway surfaces as well as soils that were potentially exposed to the hexavalent chromium are being excavated and taken away for proper disposal, a news release indicates.

The storm drain system is also being cleaned and inspected to make certain 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 is also being conducted in the waters of the Quinnipiac and along its shores, according to a news release.

The Southington Water Department is working closely with the Town’s Emergency Response Team to monitor the remediation process for the chemical spill at Light Metals Coloring Company located at 270 Spring Street. As a precaution two of the SWD’s wells were temporarily shut down until there was a better understanding of the amount, type and the remediation process of the chemical spill.

"We are confident the Town of Southington’s emergency response team has the situation under control and that there will be no adverse impact to the Town of Southington’s drinking water supply," DEEP Officials said. "However, as a safeguard SWD will be conducting a series of water quality samples to ensure the water supply remains safe for consumption.

"Throughout last night, and continuing throughout this response, air, water and soil sampling have been conducted around the site of the spill. At this time, we are confident that every action has been taken to protect the public health and the environment."

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel