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Lye in Mass. City Water Blamed for Burns
Washington Times ^ | 4-25-07 | AP

Posted on 04/25/2007 11:12:54 AM PDT by JZelle

SPENCER, Mass. (AP) -- Dozens of residents were taken to hospitals Wednesday with burns or rashes after the town's water supply was accidentally treated with too much corrosive lye, officials said.

People in Spencer were advised not to use or touch the water until further notice, said Ed Coletta, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Residents started complaining of skin irritation and moderate burns after showering early Wednesday, police Sgt. John Agnew said. He said officials determined that a malfunction at the town's water treatment plant had released too much sodium hydroxide into the water supply.

Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye, is routinely put into water to reduce acidity and limit pipe corrosion, Coletta said.

The Spencer Fire Department took about 40 people to area hospitals who have displayed rashes or burns, said firefighter Ryan Flannery.

(Excerpt) Read more at ap.washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: incompetence; lye; taintedwater; taxachusetts
I love my well!
1 posted on 04/25/2007 11:12:57 AM PDT by JZelle
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To: JZelle

At least they don’t have to worry about clogged pipes in the bathroom!


2 posted on 04/25/2007 11:14:23 AM PDT by sittnick (There is no salvation in politics.)
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To: JZelle

Me too, but watch out if your state is like mine, they’ll be coming after your well soon.


3 posted on 04/25/2007 11:14:39 AM PDT by bigfootbob
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To: JZelle
Dozens of residents were taken to hospitals Wednesday with burns or rashes after the town's water supply was accidentally treated with too much corrosive lye, officials said.

Uh huh... accidentally... sure!! /sarc
4 posted on 04/25/2007 11:18:09 AM PDT by California74
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To: JZelle
Dozens of residents were taken to hospitals Wednesday with burns or rashes after the town's water supply was accidentally treated with too much corrosive lye, officials said.

Uh huh... accidentally... sure!! /sarc
5 posted on 04/25/2007 11:18:10 AM PDT by California74
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To: JZelle
Sodium Hydroxide in drinking water??? I have heard about Chlorination/Ozonation, Fluoride, but LYE???!!!!
6 posted on 04/25/2007 11:18:22 AM PDT by TheBattman (I've got TWO QUESTIONS for you....)
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To: JZelle
Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye, is routinely put into water to reduce acidity

Not true! That's a lye!
7 posted on 04/25/2007 11:20:40 AM PDT by P-40 (Al Qaeda was working in Iraq. They were just undocumented.)
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To: TheBattman
NaOH is not atypical in drinking water treatment, and probably was being used to raise the pH of an aggressive, acidic water supply. There are better chemicals to use that wouldn't have caused such a dramatic problem if there was a malfunction, as apparently occurred.
8 posted on 04/25/2007 11:23:58 AM PDT by Squidpup ("Fight the Good Fight")
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To: Squidpup

Yeah just like the article said (duh)


9 posted on 04/25/2007 11:25:03 AM PDT by Squidpup ("Fight the Good Fight")
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To: bigfootbob

“Me too, but watch out if your state is like mine, they’ll be coming after your well soon.”

Why? Better control of people, money?


10 posted on 04/25/2007 11:36:13 AM PDT by JZelle
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To: TheBattman

There go our precious bodily fluids.


11 posted on 04/25/2007 11:39:43 AM PDT by Publius (A = A)
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To: sittnick

LOL true..


12 posted on 04/25/2007 12:12:18 PM PDT by wafflehouse (When in danger, When in doubt, Run in circles, Scream and Shout!)
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To: JZelle

Whoa! They must have put in a LOT of NaOH. The whole month’s supply? To go from drinkable to able to cause burns is quite a leap.


13 posted on 04/25/2007 12:13:04 PM PDT by Right Wing Assault ("..this administration is planning a 'Right Wing Assault' on values and ideals.." - John Kerry)
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To: JZelle

All of the above, but our state considers the water on your property as theirs and the tribes. Our “straws” that draw from the aquifer are out of their direct control.

In 1998 my state started requiring all wells to be assigned a department of ecology registration number and physical tag. Since then, every consecutive legislative session there’s an attempt to meter all registered well heads.

Watch the courts in Kalifornia, there’s several water rights issues being adjudicated now that will have national implications. Kalifornia is a bad regulations generator that wholesales oppressive legislation to all points eastward.


14 posted on 04/25/2007 12:35:08 PM PDT by bigfootbob
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To: California74

“Uh huh... accidentally... sure!! /sarc”

You know something about someone doing this on purpose?


15 posted on 04/25/2007 12:44:36 PM PDT by Kirkwood
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To: bigfootbob

I never really thought about them doing that, but it makes sense as they seem to find new ways to leech off you all the time.


16 posted on 04/25/2007 1:01:49 PM PDT by JZelle
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To: Kirkwood

I was just being sarcastic, anticipating comments from folks who think EVERYTHING is a terrorist attack...


17 posted on 04/25/2007 1:52:32 PM PDT by California74
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