Emergency Plan - Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority

EVENT SPECIFIC GUIDELINES 14(ESG-14)
HAZARDOUS MATERIAL RELEASE
3.3.3. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS (HAZ MAT) INCIDENT SEVERITY LEVELS
HAZ MAT SEVERITY
DESCRIPTION and EXAMPLES
LEVEL LEVEL
1
2 Minor
Standard
“Emergency”
3 Moderate
4 Serious
Indicates an incident with a very minimal degree of
hazard or danger involved, and can be safely handled by
properly trained, properly equipped personnel already
on scene.
EXAMPLE: After connecting a new chlorine / ammonia
cylinder, a small leak is detected at the lead gasket.
Indicates an incident with a minor degree danger; can
normally be safely handled by properly trained, properly
equipped personnel already on scene.
EXAMPLE: A small leak on chlorine gas feed tubing.
Indicates an incident with a moderate degree of danger;
will generally require an “emergency response” by
trained and equipped Haz Mat Technicians; may require
Fire Department Haz Mat Team support and assistance.
EXAMPLE: A leaking fusible plug on a chlorine
cylinder.
Indicates an incident with a serious degree of danger;
will require an “emergency response” and Fire
Department Haz Mat Team; may require public
notification and/or evacuation.
EXAMPLE: Punctured or ruptured cylinder; valve or
valve stem blowout.
All chlorine and ammonia cylinders are stored and utilized in completely enclosed chemical
feed rooms, which will help to contain a release should one occur.
All locations also have Leak Detectors, which will detect any release of chemical into the
chemical feed room and activate an alarm light and buzzer at the chemical room.
All Leak Detectors are also connected to SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition),
or telemetry. When an alarm condition occurs, in addition to the local alarm at the chemical
room, the alarm also shows up at the Dispatch Center / Control Room at the Operations
Center, and is sent to the “On-Call” Plant Operator’s pager.
At the Wastewater Treatment Plants, a Leak Detector alarm also activates pneumatic (air
operated) valves that are connected to each cylinder, automatically shutting off the flow of
chlorine gas into the feed tubing and supply piping.
A Leak Detector alarm at a Wastewater Treatment Plant Chlorine Room will also activate a
Scrubber System, which draws air out of the Chlorine Room, and passes it through a
neutralizing agent before releasing it to the atmosphere.
Grand Strand Water & Sewer Authority 131 CONFIDENTIAL MATERIALS
Emergency Management Plan
SECURITY SENSITIVE
June 7, 2013
NOT FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE