The health authorities of Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) recommended this Sunday to consume bottled water due to a chemical spill of between 8,100 and 12,000 gallons of a latex solution in the Delaware River due to a leak registered on Friday at the Trinseo Altuglas chemical facilities, in Bristol. .
The spilled material is not toxic to humans and no adverse effects from the spill have been reported so far, according to authorities in Bucks County, northeast of Philadelphia.
Tim Thomas, vice president of Trinseo, told local station WPVI-TV on Saturday that the material poses no risk to the public.
"It's like the component that's in the paint," he told the station, "it's your typical acrylic paint that you have in your house, that's what this material really is, in a water base."
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Mike Carroll, director of the Philadelphia Office of Transportation, said there are no signs of contaminants in the city's water, but "you can't be 100% sure" they won't show up later.
The health hazard, he added, "is very low, if any," but citizens should consider using bottled water for drinking or cooking to minimize any risk.
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The connection to Baxter's drinking water treatment plant was closed following the spill, but was later opened to maintain minimum levels and prevent damage to equipment, as well as to supply water for firefighters and other essential needs.
Pennsylvania American Water said its Yardley water treatment plant, about 15 miles upriver from the spill, was not affected.
Aqua, for its part, said it closed the entrance to its water system in Bristol as a precaution and was not affected.
