Chlorine gas leak at GWI’s Shelter Belt

GWI Shelter Belt compound on Vlissengen Road.

- no danger to nearby residents says water company

Residents of Bel Air Park, Georgetown have complained that a chlorine leak at the Guyana Water Inc. Shelter Belt occurred sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning, and there was no way of informing the water company since the emergency lines went unanswered.
According to the residents, the smell was so strong, that it affected them to the point where some persons had to leave their homes temporarily. They say persons living as far away as Duncan Street were getting the smell.
When contacted for a response, the Guyana Water Incorporated gave the assurance that the leak was minimal and posed no danger to the nearby residents. The water company stated that the leak occurred within the compound of the Shelter-Belt Water Treatment Plant during the early morning hours on Saturday, June 12, 2010. Quick action by treatment plant operators prevented any escalation of the gas leak.
According to GWI’s Health and Safety Officer, Christopher Cathro, the leak was caused by a faulty chlorine gas container. Following the first indicators, Shelter-Belt plant operators immediately contained the leak in accordance with guidelines specified by GWI’s Plant Safety Management System.
Cathro added, “The leak posed no danger to nearby residents. Due to the swift action by our operators, the amount of gas which escaped into the open air was minimal and did not cause any harm to the plant operators, plant or other animal life within the vicinity.”
The Health and Safety officer further indicated that a full investigation was conducted with the aim of minimising similar occurrences.
He advised that all safety measures for the handling of chlorine gas cylinders will continue at all GWI facilities. These are constantly reviewed and recommendations for improved safety are implemented with the aim of eliminating any potential hazards to public safety.
GWI would like to advise residents that the smell of chlorine gas would have resulted from the minimal amounts of chlorine that would have been diffused and diluted in the air around the treatment plant. The concentration was negligible and would not have resulted in any adverse consequences to plant or animal life. The company has offered the assurance that the safety of customers and residents living and working in communities in which GWI operates remains a top priority.
On July 27, 2008, a chlorine leak occurred at the same location, due to damaged tubing.
GWI at that time, attempted to keep the issue under wraps, but the media reported the leak to the public, forcing the water company to respond publicly.
There were charges levelled at the company that the operators were not at their stations at the time or had been sleeping. It was determined that the chlorine had leaked from a crack which had developed in the copper tubing. The chlorine had been seeping out in small amounts, which is why limited damage had been done.
At least two households had been evacuated, and residents were advised to get medical checkups. GWI promised to pay expenses for any medical complications occurring as a result of the leak. The company at that time announced that it would be switching to liquid chlorine which is safer.