Water used to put out Wewoka fire can't be treated

WEWOKA, Okla. (AP) _ Officials in Wewoka are trying to figure out what to do with thousands of gallons of water used to put out a chemical plant fire. <br/><br/>State environmental officials say the water

Tuesday, August 3rd 2004, 9:20 am

By: News On 6

WEWOKA, Okla. (AP) _ Officials in Wewoka are trying to figure out what to do with thousands of gallons of water used to put out a chemical plant fire.

State environmental officials say the water contains unsafe chemicals and can't be returned to the city's treatment system.

About 450-thousand gallons of water used on the fire was collected and placed in tank trucks. Recent rains have brought the amount up to nearly 700-thousand gallons that must be disposed of.

Monty Elder with the state Department of Environmental Quality says one possibility is putting the water into a well that keeps it from reaching ground water.

Another is treating the water, then sending it to a larger waste water treatment plant such as the one in Oklahoma City.