Officials have officially reopened waterways contaminated by fire retardant that leaked into local water systems following a recent fire at the Sherwin-Williams paint factory in Garland.
Firefighters responded to reports of a fire at the Sherwin-Williams facility during the early morning hours of August 7. Upon arrival, fire personnel reported a massive blaze and multiple explosions inside, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Foam retardant used to suppress the fire leaked into the surroundings, including local creeks and sewers. The contamination affected approximately 17.4 miles of waterways, including the East Fork Trinity River.
The city partnered with the EPA and the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Officials reported contaminant levels in affected waters had decreased on August 15, and water was deemed safe for agricultural use.
Efforts to remedy the situation appear to have succeeded.
The City of Garland announced on Tuesday that the EPA and TCEQ have opened up all waterways near the paint plant for “unrestricted use.”
“Sampling points that span the 53 miles of impacted waterways showed results below site-specific cleanup levels over a five-day period,” reported the city. The city said Sherwin-Williams had also finished flushing dechlorinated water into affected storm drains, streams, and Duck Creek.
Citizens have complained about odors coming from the area, as reported by The Dallas Express. However, officials have attributed these odors to stagnated waters, saying there are currently no sewage or wastewater leaks in the surrounding area.
“Throughout the cleanup efforts, more than 1.5 million gallons of water were pumped from impacted waterways filling 75 tanks. The water is being moved to state and federally-approved facilities for disposal,” said the City of Garland on its website. “Two earthen dams built to help mitigate the spread of contaminants have also been deconstructed.”
City officials also previously confirmed that drinking water was unaffected. They also stated that the city’s sanitation and sewer systems were unaffected.