Source: http://www.livingstondaily.com, September 29, 2015
By: Wayne Peal
Soil removal continues today near the Howell Wastewater Treatment Plant after a leak in a pipeline carrying chemicals to the plant.
Plant staff is also working to determine what caused the leak.
“It was a small leak, more like a drip because the line wasn’t pressurized,” city pubic services Director Irv Suida said.
The leak appeared to have occurred when one of the one inch pipe’s joints failed, he added.
“We don’t know why it (the leak) happened,” Suida said. “It was a fairly new line.”
City staff isn’t certain when the leak began.
The joint has been repaired.
The line carried chemicals used to control phosphorus levels in wastewater.
Soil was removed because the chemicals contain acids, Suida said.
City workers are also examining other pipes near the site for potential damage caused by the leaking acids.
They believe the leak was discovered in time to prevent that from happening.
“It looks like we caught it in time, Suida said.
The line was buried about six feet below the ground.
Phosphorus is a chemical contained in waste materials treated at the plant.
It must be removed from treated water because it can enocurage growth of algae.