Philly tap water safe to drink until at least 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, city says

Philadelphia (CBS) — The City of Philadelphia has extended the deadline for residents to use tap water safely.

of City said Philadelphia tap water It is now safe to use until at least 3:30 PM Tuesday, March 28th.

Officials say residents should use water as normal. The City of Philadelphia says Philadelphia’s tap water is safe to drink, cook and shower in.

In a statement, Mayor Jim Kenny said, “We understand the legitimate concerns felt by the public as the release of chemicals into our waterways can pose a major threat to our health and safety. “The Philadelphia Water Authority works around the clock to prevent this from happening and to make sure our water is safe to drink and use. We recommend that residents who want to ensure that they have access to water for 2020. No contaminants have been detected in the water of the Delaware River, so we are confident there is no risk at this time. Water remains safe.

According to the Philadelphia Water Authority, the latest test showed I received it around 4pm on Monday and it was negative. Overall, since the initial recommendation, the water department has conducted 40 tests, all of which have been negative, according to the city.

City officials say no contaminants associated with the 8,100-gallon and 12,000-gallon latex emulsion product spills have been found in PWD’s water system. The chemicals entered Otter Creek in Bristol, Bucks County and flowed into the Delaware River.

“What we were facing from Friday night through Saturday morning was clouds on the river,” said PWD Commissioner Randy Heyman. “What is that cloud? Is it safe? And can it be cured?

The intake for the city’s Baxter drinking water treatment plant draws from the Delaware River several miles downstream from where the leak occurred. However, the city said the intake was closed before the chemicals entered the treatment facility.

Bristol’s Trinseo Altuglas LLC described the chemical as 50% water and 50% latex polymer. This is an acrylic resin manufacturing plant.

PWD continues to closely track the spill, according to the city.

PWD has several procedures for monitoring water quality. They collect samples from the Delaware River, the influent and effluent of the Baxter Raw Water Basin, and multiple locations in the treatment process and at the inlets of the distribution system.

PWD then conducts regular sampling at specific locations and targeted sampling as it fills raw water reservoirs.

The city expects the residual plume and residual water contamination to be clear by Wednesday or Thursday. A water distribution plan is being implemented as an emergency to help vulnerable people.

Philly officials say tests will continue to ensure that contaminated water has not entered PWD’s system. The city said conservative estimates hope the situation will be fully resolved by next week.

Residents can track the impact of the spill on a map provided by the Philadelphia Emergency Management Agency.

Efforts to monitor water and Baxter Intake water are coordinated by PWD, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and other local utilities.

As a precautionary measure under FEMA guidelines, the city recommends that Philly residents stockpile up to three days’ worth of water.

Closing Philadelphia’s schools and restaurants is not recommended at this time, said Mike Carroll, Philadelphia’s vice president for transportation, infrastructure and sustainability.

The Environmental Protection Agency said there was no indication that the spill would affect fish or wildlife.

Residents west of the Schuylkill River in the city of Philadelphia were not affected by the spill because they got their water from another factory.