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SHADYSIDE -- Firefighters and a hazmat unit were called in Friday to contain a chlorine leak inside the Shadyside Wastewater Treatment Plant.
OR&W Fire District Assistant Fire Chief John Shaver said employees discovered a detection alarm going off before 7 a.m. and called 911 for help. The small leak was caused by a chlorine regulator malfunctioning. Although a backup regulator began to work, a small amount of the chlorine did escape into the room.
Belmont County Emergency Management Agency Director Dave Ivan said the chlorine was in a gas form. A hazmat team from Belmont County was called in to help determine the cause of the leak.
"They wore special suits and air masks and used a meter to detect it," Shaver said.
David Rucker, the plant's superintendent, and Ranae Teasdale, plant assistant superintendent, said the first employee arriving in the morning heard the alarm.
"We came in after and called 911. We went by protocol," Teasdale said of their response. "We're lucky we have a good fire department."
"They were here in minutes," Rucker added of the firefighters.
Both Rucker and Teasdale said they had never experienced a leak situation at the plant before Friday. Teasdale conceded it was a scary situation at first.
Rucker said they were planning to order a new regulator that day and install it immediately.
Shaver said initially they created a 200-foot area where people were not allowed to get close to the plant. He said it was better to err on the side caution.