Philadelphia officials continue to monitor tap water system after chemical spill in Delaware River

 A canal leading the Delaware River into Philadelphia
(Image credit: Anadolu Agency / Contributor/Getty Images)

Philadelphia officials are continuing to monitor the city's drinking water system after a chemical spill upstream in the Delaware River, CNN reports. Despite initially suggesting that residents use bottled water, officials said tap water from the Baxter Drinking Water Treatment Plant would be safe to use until at least 11:59 p.m. on Monday.

So far, none of the chemicals leaked into the river by a latex product spill Friday have been detected in Philadelphia's water system. However, the incident still raised concerns about potential health threats. The spill "appears to be the result of equipment failure" at the Bristol, Pennsylvania, plant, which manufactures acrylic resins, the facility's owner, Trinseo PLC, said. About 8,100 gallons of a latex emulsion solution – half water and half latex polymer – were spilled, according to the company. The product "overflowed the on-site containment system and entered a storm drain, where it flowed to Otter Creek and then to the Delaware River."

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Theara Coleman, The Week US

Theara Coleman has worked as a staff writer at The Week since September 2022. She frequently writes about technology, education, literature and general news. She was previously a contributing writer and assistant editor at Honeysuckle Magazine, where she covered racial politics and cannabis industry news.