Chlorine Explosion Injures 4 At Water Treatment Plant In Colorado, Heavily Damages Facility

BERTHOUD, Colo. (AP) _ A chlorine explosion at a water treatment plant injured four people Friday and heavily damaged the facility, authorities said. <br/><br/>No water-quality problems were expected because

Saturday, July 21st 2007, 2:50 pm

By: News On 6

BERTHOUD, Colo. (AP) _ A chlorine explosion at a water treatment plant injured four people Friday and heavily damaged the facility, authorities said.

No water-quality problems were expected because other plants in the system were still operating, said Judy Dahl, business manager for the Little Thompson Water District.

Authorities asked 500 people to evacuate their homes as a precaution while crews cleaned up, said Larimer County sheriff's spokeswoman Eloise Campanella.

A truck was unloading chemicals at the Carter Lake Filtration Plant, about 40 miles north of Denver, when the explosion happened, Dahl said. Chlorine is used to disinfect water but is toxic as a gas and poses a risk of fire and explosion. In World War I, it was used as a chemical weapon.

Berthoud Fire spokeswoman Chloe McKinley said the explosion was caused because chemicals being unloaded at the plant were not compatible with other chemicals.

Two of the four injured workers were treated at a hospital, Campanella said, but none of the injuries was considered serious.

Authorities blocked roads into and out of the area and advised nearby residents to close windows and turn off air conditioners, Campanella said.

It was not known how much chlorine leaked, said Debra Graves of the Berthoud Fire District.