According to the city of Hilton Head Island, six different emergency response units, including the hazardous materials team, were called to a chlorine gas leak on Hilton Head Island on Monday.
The leak occurred in a freshwater well on the north end of the island on Wild Horse Road, Pete Nardi, general manager of the district’s civil service, told The Island Packet.
Chlorine gas is used to sanitize the water, Nardi said.
The leak posed no threat to the public or the source of drinking water, he said.
It took about an hour to fix the leak and replace the chlorine gas bottle that was causing the problem. Nardi said there are four freshwater wells that still use chlorine gas to sanitize the water.
But that is changing.
The wells will soon use liquid chlorine to disinfect the water, which Nardi says will stop the risk of gas leaks.
Crews prepare to fix a chlorine gas leak on Hilton Head Island on May 17. The city of Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Fire Rescue and technicians from the Bluffton Township Fire District responded to the leak. The crews had to wear protective suits to get into the building.
Chlorine gas, like carbon dioxide, is toxic to humans. The gas was armed during World War I because it is a choking agent that causes breathing difficulties and can lead to severe respiratory stress or death.
Chlorine gas can be recognized by its pungent and irritating odor, which is similar to bleaching.
Crews handling the leak were decontaminated after leaving the building to avoid side effects, the city of Hilton Head said.
Why does my water smell weird?
Monday’s gas leak did not contaminate drinking water and pose no threat to public safety.
The South Island PSD provides information about different types of water smells and what to do:
My water is brown: this is often caused by iron in drinking water, is not a health risk, and iron discoloration is usually temporary. South Island PSD recommends not drinking tap water or using the water for washing if it is discolored. Rinsing with cold water for 15 minutes should remove discolored water.
My tap water is milky or cloudy: Milky or cloudy water is often caused by oxygen bubbles in the pipes that are released when water leaves the tap. Clouds and air bubbles do not pose a health risk.
The sieves in my faucets are clogged with white particles: sieves cut off the flow of water when it leaves your faucet. Aerators can collect particulates in water and should be routinely cleaned and replaced once a year throughout the year. The buildup of particles is often white and comes from a variety of sources including water heaters and calcium buildup.
There are black particles in my tap water: caused by the breakdown of rubber materials used in fittings. Flushing the system and your faucets will likely fix the problem.
Sometimes I smell a smell from my faucet: A smell from your faucet usually comes from the sink drain, not the water. The plumbing under your sink, usually the U-shaped pipe, can build up dirt over time and create an odor on your faucet. Pour bleach or disinfectant down the drain to remove dirt and odors.
My water smells like rotten eggs: If you notice the odor in your kitchen faucet, it could be due to a partially clogged drain or dirty garbage disposal. Another common cause of a “rotten egg” smell from tap water in the house may be associated with your water heater. Flushing the water heater yourself or contacting a plumber to do the flush and then setting the water heater back to the correct temperature will, in most cases, resolve the problem.
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Katherine Kokal graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and joined The Island Packet’s newsroom in 2018. Before moving to the Lowcountry, she worked as an interviewer and translator for a non-profit organization in Barcelona and at two NPR member stations. At The Island Packet, Katherine covers the government, the environment, development, the beaches and the all-important loggerhead sea turtle of Hilton Head Island. She was honored with the South Carolina Press Association Awards for in-depth coverage, government strike coverage, business strike coverage, growth and development coverage, food writing, and social media use.
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