Journal of Clinical Toxicology
Open Access

Accidental contamination of a German town’s drinking water with sodium hydroxide

4^th Global Summit on Toxicology

August 24-26, 2015 Philadelphia, USA

Luba Lendowski

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Clin Toxicol

Abstract :

Case report of a very serious drinking water incident putting up to 50,000 inhabitants of a small town near Bonn in North Rhine-
Westphalia, Germany at risk. A concentrated solution of highly alkaline water by sodium hydroxide was accidentally washed into
the town’s drinking water at a pumping station and increased the pH-value of the water to 12. Residents who came into contact with
the contaminated water immediately had a toxic reaction. The incident was detected by complaints from customers and after that was
stopped within several hours. The pipes were flushed and the customers were warned not to use the water till the all clear. After this
immediate management there was an investigation and the cause of the incident was detected as an accidental release of accumulated
sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution. The lack of a network alarm system and the automatic cut-off machanism as deficiencies in the
design of the station were rectified by the water company after the incident.