Human Error Blamed in Chlorinated Water Spill
The release of 150,000 gallons of chlorinated water into the San Joaquin River earlier this month was caused by human error, Manteca officials reported to state water quality officials.
Chlorinated waste water began flowing from the city pipeline after a tank holding a chemical that neutralizes the chlorine before it is pumped into the river ran dry, the city’s report says. An alarm used to warn when the tank was empty apparently had not been activated.
Chlorine is added to the waste water to kill bacteria but usually is removed before the treated waste is discharged into the river.
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