PWSA releases chemical that turns Allegheny River purple
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The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority says an accidental release of a treatment chemical today will have no ill effects on drinking water or the Allegheny River.
PWSA said the inadvertent release of permanganate, a chemical used to remove iron and manganese from drinking water, turned the river purple in the Sharpsburg area.
"It's a very deep purple color, so it alarmed people," Stanley States, PWSA director of water quality and production, said.
Mr. States said PWSA employees today were washing out an empty basin used to hold the chemical and discharged residue into the sanitary sewer system, a practice permitted by Allegheny County Sanitary Authority. Because of recent rains, he said the sewer system overflowed into the river.
The permanganate diluted rapidly, Mr. States said, adding that the state Department of Environmental Protection and Allegheny County Health Department were apprised of the problem. He said PWSA isn't likely to face sanctions from regulators.
"They seemed satisfied with the explanation," he said.
First Published January 17, 2012 12:00 am
