A chlorine spill at a Southwest Florida wastewater treatment plant is raising new questions about how chemical accidents are handled — and what can happen when a release reaches the ground before crews fully contain it, the Fort Myers News-Press reported.
Officials maintained that nearby waterways were not affected, but the scale of the spill and unanswered questions about possible soil impacts still prompted concern.
Here’s what to know
Utility officials acknowledged that a Sept. 18 release at the Lehigh Acres wastewater treatment plant in Lee County sent about 2,000 gallons of liquid chlorine beyond a containment area and onto nearby ground, though it did not enter storm drains or local waterways.
State incident records cited by the News-Press indicated a manager discovered the discharge at about 8 a.m. at the Florida Governmental Utility Authority plant at 550 Construction Lane…