Suez Water Pty Ltd has been fined a total of $30,000 after faulty equipment allegedly resulted in a leak of approximately 203kg of chlorine gas at the Prospect Water Filtration Plant.
NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Regional Director Metropolitan Giselle Howard said it was fortunate the majority of the leak was contained and neutralised within the chlorine facility, but that companies had an obligation to operate within the conditions of their environment protection license.
"Approximately 200kg of the chlorine gas was managed by specialised equipment within the facility, however, approximately 3kg of chlorine was released to the atmosphere during the incident.
"Whilst the gas released to the atmosphere quickly dispersed and no one was harmed during the incident, the volume of chlorine gas released was significant."
The EPA fined Suez Water $15,000 for not maintaining and operating the plant in a proper and efficient condition. Suez was also fined $15,000 for not carrying out its activities in a competent manner, as required under its environment protection licence.
The faulty equipment which caused the chlorine gas leak in January this year, was allegedly the result of a number of poor equipment maintenance issues and operational decisions at the facility.
Suez Water responded promptly at the time of the incident to cease the leak and has co-operated fully with the EPA during its investigation.
Suez Water has since undertaken a voluntary internal audit of its maintenance practices and procedures and of the operation of the plant. A suite of corrective actions and improvements have been implemented by Suez Water to prevent a recurrence of such an incident.
