Water Deemed Safe Through Tuesday Afternoon: Philadelphia Officials

PHILADELPHIA — Officials in Philadelphia said municipal tap water is safe to drink and cook with through Tuesday afternoon in a news conference Monday.

Mike Carroll, Deputy Managing Director for Transportation, Infrastructure and Sustainability, said at the news conference, water is deemed to be safe through at least 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Officials plan to provide updated guidance Tuesday morning.

While stocking up on bottled water is not recommended at this time, officials did reiterate FEMA's guidance of keeping three days' supply of water — or one gallon per person per day — on hand at all times.

Carroll said so far, no chemical contamination has been found since testing began.

"We've done around 40 tests and none of them have come back with contamination," he said.

Residents can find out if they're in an affected area of the city online here.

"The Philadelphia Water Department is working around the clock to ensure that this does not happen and that our water remains safe to drink and use," Mayor Jim Kenney said. "I encourage residents who want to make sure they have water available to fill bottles or pitchers of tap water and am confident that there is no risk at this time as no contaminants have been detected in the Delaware River water. Again, tap water continues to be safe."

Chemicals of potential concern include methyl methacrylate, ethyl acrylate and butyl acrylate, which was identified in connection with the East Palestine train derailment last month in Ohio, according to Carroll.

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He said the cloud of latex material spilled in Bristol into a Delaware River tributary should be cleared by Wednesday or Thursday.

The projection is based on modeling and historic water flows.

The city had closed intakes to the Baxter Drinking Water Treatment Plant as a precaution after the spill just before midnight Friday but was forced to open them overnight to ensure sufficient water supplies.

The "latex emulsion product" was released from an Altuglas manufacturing facility Friday, shortly before midnight, into Otter Creek in Bristol due to an apparent equipment failure, according to its parent company, Trinseo PLC.

Trinseo estimated 8,100 gallons of the solution — about 50 percent water and the remainder latex polymer — was spilled.

The latex emulsion is a white liquid used in various consumer goods, the company said. Altuglas and regulatory agencies were testing water samples in the surrounding area to confirm the material was not a threat to people or wildlife.

“We are conducting a thorough assessment of all of our systems and processes to identify and address potential vulnerabilities and will take the steps necessary to close any gaps,” Trinseo CEO Frank Bozich said in a news release Sunday. “The release of material has been stopped and our efforts are now focused on testing the local waterways.”

The Bristol facility manufactures acrylic resins for Trinseo’s Engineered Materials business. The plant employs about 110 people.

The incident is being investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The Coast Guard advised residents to stay away from the area during the cleanup.

To stay informed, residents are encouraged to sign up for ReadyPhiladelphia notifications by texting READYPHILA to 888-777 for free phone alerts, or customize free text and email alerts on the Office of Emergency Management’s website here.