At approximately 6:30 PM on June 27, 2010, the Millard County Sheriff’s Office 911 dispatch center received a telephone call from a maintenance employee of Hinckley City.  The caller said there may have been an accidental release of Chlorine from the water treatment facility located at 300 East 4500 South, Delta.

Chlorine is used in the purification of culinary water at this well-site, and most other municipal water distribution systems in Millard County.  Chlorine is listed as an extremely hazardous substance by Federal regulations and as a carcinogen by OSHA regulations.  Chlorine is usually shipped and stored as a liquid and used as a gas.  In the gas form, chlorine is considered immediately dangerous to life and health at 10 parts per million in the atmosphere.   Chlorine will boil off and dissipate rapidly in ambient conditions.

On receiving the call, Delta Fire Department, a Millard County Sheriff’s Office HAZMAT Technician, and several Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to the scene.  4500 South was blocked from vehicle and foot traffic during this incident.  The Sheriff Deputies on the scene asked three families that were adjacent to the facility to voluntarily evacuate their homes for health and safety reasons.  A fourth family nearby self-evacuated although not asked to do so.

Members of the Delta Fire Department wearing protective equipment were able to access the building and ensure the chlorine system was turned off.  The building was opened and allowed to vent any potential chlorine gas.  The maintenance personnel were than allowed into the building to make repairs.  The families that had evacuated their homes were then notified that they could return safely.