The Philadelphia Water Department is confident that tap water from the Baxter Drinking Water Treatment Plant will remain safe to drink and use at least through 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, following a chemical spill in Bucks County.
To date, results have shown no contamination in Philadelphia's waters from the chemical spill, officials say. BRISTOL, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- The Philadelphia Water Department is confident that tap water from the Baxter Drinking Water Treatment Plant will remain safe to drink and use at least through 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, following a chemical spill in Bucks County. Health officials in Bucks County, said Sunday that a leak late Friday evening at the Trinseo Altuglas chemical facility in Bristol Township spilled between 8,100 and 12,000 gallons (30,700 and 120,000 liters) of a water-based latex finishing solution. Crews have been testing the water around the clock. To date, results have shown no contamination in Philadelphia's waters from the chemical spill, according to officials. Mike Carroll, deputy managing director for the city's Office of Transportation, Infrastructure and Sustainability, said Monday evening that any spill conditions would last no later than Thursday - "and we may be able to say by Wednesday night" it has completely passed the city's treatment plant. "In fact, I think as the hours and days go by, it's very likely it will not enter the Philadelphia water system," he said. So far, 60,000 gallons of contaminated water has been collected, officials said Monday. Shoreline patrols Sunday morning turned up no visible chemicals along the Delaware River, they said. The Philadelphia water department "has analyzed a variety of samples from the river and raw water basin using infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography," city officials said. "Contaminants related to the Bristol Township discharge have not been found" in the city water system, officials said. Officials said they will continue to track the spill closely and vowed to notify the public immediately if water quality sampling indicates a potential effect on the river water entering the Baxter Water Treatment Plant in northeast Philadelphia downstream from the spill. On Sunday,…