As of 6:30 p.m., March 28, 2023: The Philadelphia Water Department reported that the City of Philadelphia's drinking water will not be impacted by the spill and is safe to drink. The DRBC will continue to follow updates regarding this incident and stands ready to lend our expertise to the response team if needed.

Background

The DRBC is tracking a chemical spill that reached the Delaware River at Bristol, Pa., late Friday night, March 24, 2023.

The lead agencies responding to the spill are the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard. Numerous federal and state agencies are engaged in the response to potential drinking water and aquatic life impacts. 

The DRBC is following developments and stands ready to lend our river monitoring, modeling and technical expertise to the interagency response team.

We will continue to share information with the Basin communities on this site and on social media when it becomes available.

If you have questions or concerns about drinking water, please refer to your local utility for the most current, localized guidance. 

Related Resources

• U.S. Coast Guard:
  
  
  • March 25, 2023, statement: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3341271/coast-guard-monitors-release-of-hazardous-material-near-bristol-pa/ 
    
    
  • March 26, 2023, statement: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3341330/coast-guard-state-locals-continue-response-to-release-of-hazardous-material-nea/
    
    
• Philadelphia/PWD information: https://water.phila.gov/drops/phila-water-dept-monitoring-spill-at-bucks-county-facility/
  
  
• New Jersey American Water:
  
  
  • March 25, 2023, statement: https://www.amwater.com/press-room/press-releases/new-jersey/new-jersey-american-water-president-mark-mcdonough-statement-on-delaware-river-tributary-chemical-spill
    
    
  • March 26, 2023, statement: https://www.amwater.com/press-room/press-releases/new-jersey/new-jersey-american-waters-delaware-river-plant-not-impacted-by-chemical-spill-issues-voluntary-conservation-notice-for-customers-in-three-counties-due-to-chemical-spill
    
    
  • March 27, 2023, statement: https://www.amwater.com/press-room/press-releases/new-jersey/new-jersey-american-waters-delaware-river-plant-still-not-impacted-by-chemical-spill-company-continues-to-ask-customers-to-voluntarily-conserve-in-three-counties
    
    
  • March 28, 2023, statement: https://www.amwater.com/press-room/press-releases/new-jersey/new-jersey-american-waters-delaware-river-plant-remains-unimpacted-by-chemical-spill-company-lifting-voluntary-conservation-order
    
    
  • March 29, 2023, statement: https://www.amwater.com/press-room/press-releases/new-jersey/as-sampling-continues-to-show-no-detections-of-chemical-spill-new-jersey-american-water-resumes-normal-operations-at-delaware-river-regional-water-treatment-plant
    
    
• Aqua information: https://www.aquawater.com/delaware-river.php
  
  
• Burlington statement: https://www.burlingtonnj.us/newsdetail_T3_R1564.php
  
  
• Bucks County:
  
  
  • March 26, 2023, statement: https://buckscounty.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=663
    
    
  • March 27, 2023, statement: https://buckscounty.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=664
    
    
  • March 28, 2023, statement: https://buckscounty.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=669
    
    
  • March 29, 2023, statement: https://buckscounty.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=671
    
    
• Trinseo PLC:
  
  
  • March 26, 2023, statement: https://www.trinseo.com/News-and-Events/Trinseo-News/2023/March/Latex-Emulsion-Release-to-Waterway-at-Trinseos-Bristol-Plant  
    
    
  • March 27, 2023, statement: https://investor.trinseo.com/home/news/news-details/2023/Trinseo-Provides-Update-on-Status-of-Release-to-Waterway-at-Bristol-Plant/default.aspx
    
    
  • March 28, 2023, statement: https://www.trinseo.com/News-and-Events/Trinseo-News/2023/March/Statement-from-Trinseo-PLC-on-Status-of-Release-to-Waterway-at-Bristol-Plant
    
    
  • March 30, 2023, statement: https://www.trinseo.com/News-and-Events/Trinseo-News/2023/March/Authorities-Announce-End-of-Water-Sampling
    
    
  • March 31, 2023, statement: https://www.trinseo.com/News-and-Events/Trinseo-News/2023/March/The-Performance-Record-of-the-Altuglas-LLC-Facility-in-Bristol
    
    
  • Update: Update from Trinseo Regarding Accidental Latex Emulsion Release to Waterway at Bristol, Pa. Plant

Posted: March 27, 2023
Updated: April 6, 2023