NARROWS, Va. – Hazardous materials teams responded to the Narrows Wastewater treatment plant Friday morning after a chlorine leak. No one was injured in the leak and drinking water was not affected.
At approximately 7:03 a.m. on Friday morning a Narrows Wastewater treatment plant operator noticed a chlorine alarm at the Narrows plant at 141 MacArthur Lane in Narrows, according to Giles County Administrator Chris McKlarney. The operator notified Giles County dispatch at approximately 7:13 a.m. and a perimeter was immediately established around the plant by the Narrows Police Department, Giles County Sheriff’s Office as well as Narrows and Pearisburg Fire Department.
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Route 61/ MacArthur Lane, which borders the plant, was closed. Norfolk Southern was also notified and stopped train traffic on nearby tracks.
Hazardous materials teams from Giles, Celanese, Salem, and Roanoke responded and determined that a 150-lb. cylinder of chlorine utilized for disinfection was the source of the leak. Hazmat teams have contained the leak and will be removing the tank. Norfolk Southern has resumed service but Route 61/ MacArthur Lane is currently still blocked in order to provide access to the plant by emergency services personnel.