Officials Say Detergent Spill in Allegheny 2nd in a Week
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
4 September 2011
State environmental officials say the same kind of industrial
detergent that spilled into the Monongahela River in Fayette
County a few days ago has now gone into the Allegheny River from a
Harmar treatment plant.
The spill of ethoxylated alcohol from the Allegheny Valley Joint
Sewage Authority treatment plant in Harmar occurred Thursday, said
plant manager Rich Chiavetta. The state Department of
Environmental Protection says it was reported Friday. Mr.
Chiavetta said about 10,000 gallons was released. The Pittsburgh
Water and Sewer Authority said the drinking water supply was not
affected.
On Wednesday, the same chemical leaked from a containment pit in
Newell into the Monongahela River. A number of fish were killed
due to the spill.
The chemical is found in some household detergents and can be
harmful in concentrated form, but officials say it is toxic to
aquatic organisms.