Massachusetts investigates high school boiler discharge incident

The Pittsfield Maintenance Department was working on the school’s boilers and discharging fluorescent green material into the sump and storm drain. The DEP issued two cease and desist orders.

PITTSFIELD, Massachusetts (Berkshire Eagle) June 26, 2010 -- The green substance that discharged into the Housatonic River from Pittsfield High School boilers June 16 is all cleaned up, but the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is conducting an ongoing investigation.

When DEP officials tested the substance coming into the river near the corner of Deming and Elm streets, they determined that the pH of the substance draining into the river was 10.6, and boiler water at the Pittsfield High School site measured 11.3. The DEP considers any pH above 8.5 to be of concern.

The DEP estimates that 1,200 gallons of chemically treated boiler water were discharged into the river. “It’s a significant amount of water,” said a DEP spokeswoman.

The Pittsfield Maintenance Department was working on the school’s boilers and discharging the fluorescent green material into the sump and storm drain. The DEP issued a verbal cease and desist and then sent a written one to the city.

Pittsfield officials hired Western Mass Environmental to look at and clean out the storm drain. The DEP spokeswoman was unable to provide further details about the chemical used in the boilers or the possible outcomes of the ongoing investigation.

Link: http://www.berkshireeagle.com/local/ci_15381664

Source: DHS Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report