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Release Occurs as Valve in Process Water System is Inadvertently Left Open
(Carrollton, Ga.– Nov. 30, 2011) – Southwire Company recently notified state and federal environmental officials of an accidental discharge of 25-50 gallons of water containing soluble oil into Buffalo Creek.
The incident happened Nov. 26 at the company’s Carrollton Building Wire Plant, which sits adjacent to the creek. Officials said a valve in the plant’s process water system was inadvertently left open as the facility was closed for the Thanksgiving holidays.
“The open valve was not noticed and the tank it served overflowed,” said Alex Thomas the plant’s manager. “The tank, which sits inside the plant, subsequently overflowed onto the plant floor. Eventually, the water flowed out of the building and into the creek.”
Plant officials notified the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and the National Response Center – per established regulatory protocol – then deployed absorbent boom arms across the creek to contain the spill. Crews were onsite within 30 minutes to clean a storm drain and affected areas of the plant.
“There were no initial signs of contamination downstream from the release point,” Thomas said. “We monitored the creek for the rest of the day and found no sign of a sheen or cloudiness in the water. Based on that, we believe the spill had no significant impact on the creek.”
Southwire has installed locking shut-off valves in the process water system and revised management procedures to help ensure a similar incident does not occur.