"Oh no! Now what do we do?"

Suppose you are laying pipe and suddenly you encounter preexisting but unforeseen pollution as you excavate. Well, now what? Back up and reroute the pipeline swearing everyone to secrecy, or face the situation and deal with it responsibly?

Such was the scenario in Watkins Glen a while ago and Village Manager, Mark Specchio, and Water Superintendent Harley Connelly, as expected, chose the later course of action.

It's not easy shutting down a worksite when deadlines are due, payrolls have to be met, work is progressing at a good pace, and the weather is optimal. Suddenly, you are the heavy who is 'stopping progress', or so it seems. Mark and Harley knew their primary concern was to the integrity of the public water system and to the safety of the people in the Village. They are committed to maintaining "Quality on Tap"! We salute you gentlemen! The correct course of action is usually the most difficult and you did not shirk your responsibility!

First, shut down the worksite and secure the area.

Secondly, immediately notify the proper agency (ies).

In this case, Matt Darcangelo of the Horseheads sub-office of the D.E.C., responded and assisted with the proper corrective action. An overview of the D.E.C.'s program for spill response and remediation is available on their web page and represented here:

NEW YORK STATE
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
Petroleum Spill Response & Remediation

Every year, The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation receives approximately 16,000 reports of confirmed and suspected releases to the environment. Over ninety percent of those releases involve petroleum products. The rest involve various hazardous substances, unknown materials, or other materials such as untreated sewage and cooking grease. Environmental damage from such releases depends on the material spilled and the extent of contamination. Many of these reports are releases of small quantities, typically a few gallons, which are contained and cleaned up quickly with little damage to the environment. In other instances material releases seep through the soil and eventually into the groundwater, which can make water supplies unsafe to drink. Vapors from spilled materials can collect in houses and businesses, creating fire and explosion hazards. Uncontained spills, especially those that impact surface water, can kill or injure plants, fish, and wildlife, and cause damage to their habitats.

New York State (NYS) responds to reports of petroleum and other hazardous material releases through the Spill Response Program maintained by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Spill response staff throughout the State investigate such spill reports and take action based on the type of material spilled, the potential environmental damage, and the public health and safety risks.

Both immediate response and continued cleanup vary depending on the type of material spilled and the damage caused. Federal and state law require the spiller, or responsible party, to notify government agencies and to contain, clean up, and dispose of any spilled/contaminated material in order to correct any environmental damage.

This may be performed by a qualified contractor hired by the responsible party. Any delay in containing or recovering a release allows contaminants to spread and may result in more extensive damage and more expensive cleanups. DEC can provide additional resources to local agencies during emergencies and will remain involved if continued cleanup of the environment is required. Continued cleanup is the responsibility of the spiller and is required if contamination and environmental damage remain after the initial containment and recovery. Again, this work may be performed by a qualified contractor. DEC response staff can assist the responsible party in selecting one. Continued cleanup may include determining the extent of contamination, selecting a cleanup technology, and completing corrective actions. The DEC will oversee the entire process to ensure the actions are protective of public safety, health and the environment.

The public can notify DEC of releases to the environment by calling the NYSDEC Spill Hotline.

Federal agencies can be notified by calling the National Response Center.

National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802

NYSDEC Spill Hotline: 1-800-457-7362

For further information, contact:
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Division of Environmental Remediation
Bureau of Spill Prevention & Response
625 Broadway - 11th Floor
Albany, NY 12233-7020
(518) 402-9546

Decals with the spill hotline number are available for the asking.

Thirdly, (and possibly most importantly)..Follow directions!!!

When the new pipeline has been exposed to contamination there are steps which need to be taken to purify the pipeline and to protect it in its new environment. I would suggest contacting your local D.O.H. Engineer for their recommendations. A suggested guideline for cleaning the pipe would be:

• Dose at 50 PPM Chlorine for 24 hours.
• Should have 24 - 25 PPM residual after 24 hours.
• Flush to an open area for dechlorination purposes.
• Take bacteriological and V.O.C. samples.
• If they pass - OK. If not - Repeat.

Jeff Pinkowski, District Sales Manager for Griffin Pipe Products Co., and Troy F. Stroud, P.E., President, Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association, were kind enough to provide me with data from the Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association explaining different types of gasket materials, their maximum service temperature whether push-on or mechanical (yes, it makes a difference!), and their common uses:

DUCTILE IRON PIPE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION
245 Riverchase Parkway East, Suite O, Birmingham, Alabama 35244
205 402-8700 Fax 205 402-8730 http:\\www.dipra.org
GASKET MATERIALS USED FOR DUCTILE IRON PIPE
IN WATER AND SEWAGE SERVICE

1 Maximum service temperatures listed are intended as general guidelines for ductile iron pipe gaskets. For service temperatures greater than those listed, consult pipe manufacturer for specific recommendations.

2 Maximum service temperature is not usually a meaningful parameter for piping gaskets; however, low temperatures during pipeline installation may necessitate precautions. Consult pipe manufacturer for pertinent recommendations.

3 Water, including sewage, with low levels of the listed contaminants.

4 Consult pipe manufacturer for availability of FKM push-on gaskets.

As the pipeline is constructed through the site, the use of 'fuel resistant' gaskets such as Viton or Fluorel is recommended, as well as using flowable fill with an ash base for a distance of 12" around the pipe.

There is a wealth of information available to you from the above mentioned gentlemen and their respective web sites. You will find all parties mentioned, as well as New York Rural Water Association, ready to assist you in any way we can. Happy digging!!!

Dan Tousley, Circuit Rider III
New York Rural Water Association

P.O. Box 487 Claverack, NY 12513
Phone: (518) 828-3155
Fax: (518) 828-0582
E-mail: nyrwa@nyruralwater.org