Environment

Acid dumped in Bellaire Ohio's water supply

by Amy Judd | February 3, 2009 at 11:57 am

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In Bellaire, Ohio, thousands of the city's residents have been told to stop drinking the water supply as a nearby chemical treatment plant accidentially added toxic hydrochloric acid to the water.

There have been no serious injuries, but forty pounds of the acid have been added, and the water is no longer safe to drink.

Water department superintendent Kirk Baker says a water supplier inadvertently gave plant workers hydrochloric acid instead of fluoride. Baker says crews opened fire hydrants and drained the entire water system to clean it.

The water was deemed safe at about 12:30 p.m.

Customers were urged to avoid using tap water and Bellaire High School dismissed classes early.

About 2,400 people were affected by the contamination.

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Uwe Paschen

at 18:19 on February 3rd, 2009

Now, that is not funny at all, and it is an inexcusable oversight. I worked in For Water purification plants and did Chemical and bacteriological work for them. I know that this can not allowed to happen and would have serious repercussions on the plant workers and executives.