August 1, 2024
On August 8, local emergency response agencies will participate in a drill at the Ernest E. Jones Wastewater Treatment Plant to ensure that personnel are prepared and equipped to protect the public in the event of a chemical accident.
The Oktibbeha County Emergency Management Agency is coordinating the exercise with support from treatment plant staff and Starkville Police and Fire Department personnel.
“We take drills seriously because they play an important role in protecting public health and safety,” said Jarvis Boyd, deputy director of the Oktibbeha County EMA. “This will be the first drill of its kind at the treatment plant, and our goal is to gain insights that will help improve Starkville’s emergency response capabilities in the event of a chemical accident.”
Because the treatment plant stocks large amounts of chlorine gas, it must demonstrate to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality that its risk management program addresses chemical accidents. The drill scenario will involve a simulated chlorine leak at the treatment plant at 305 Sand Road.
Chlorine gas is used to disinfect wastewater before it is released back into the environment. The treatment plant stocks four to six tons of chlorine onsite in cylinders, and personnel are trained to follow safety precautions when storing and handling chlorine. They’ve also completed self-contained breathing apparatus training as part of safety requirements.
In preparation for the drill, the Oktibbeha County EMA recently held a tabletop exercise that allowed representatives from participating agencies to run through the drill scenario together to sharpen their focus on teamwork, coordination and communication.
The drill is designed to test the response team’s ability to respond quickly to the site, stop and contain the leak, administer first aid, and prevent or limit public exposure.
Starkville Utilities updates the wastewater treatment plant’s risk management plan every five years to ensure it contains the latest safety updates and requirements.
“Since this is new to all of us, we’re working together to research best practices and respond effectively as a team,” said Thomas Ware, Starkville Utilities’ chief wastewater operator. “Anything we can do to improve plant safety and community safety is a step in the right direction, and we’re also strengthening community-wide emergency response efforts.”
Starkville Utilities is a municipally owned and operated electric and water utility, serving more than 14,000 residences, businesses and industries in Starkville as well as the state’s largest institution of higher learning, Mississippi State University.