Coalition Statement on Latex Chemical Spill into the Delaware River Watershed 

The Coalition is saddened to learn that about 8,100 gallons of harmful latex chemicals ― like butyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate ― entered Otter Creek, a tributary for the Delaware River Watershed on the evening of Friday, March 24th. This spill, caused by the Trinseo plant, has threatened the drinking water for over 975,000 people including the watershed communities of Bristol, Philadelphia, Camden, and more.

Every company along the River and its tributaries has a responsibility to maintain and promote a healthy watershed. We must hold these parties accountable as contaminant spillages threaten this region's livelihood. While officials claim that the drinking water remains safe at this time, we must continue to invest in infrastructure updates to our basin’s treatment plants, testing instruments, and water-line pipes to ensure the 13.3 million people who depend upon the basin for their drinking water have access to a pollutant-free tap every time. 

The Delaware River Watershed should be a trusted and reliable place to fish, swim, and obtain our drinking water. This spillage and potential for contaminated tap water have ultimately created a dependence on single-use plastics as impacted communities turn to plastic water bottles, which if not properly recycled, can end up in water systems and pollute them even more. 

The long-term impacts on residents’ health, aquatic wildlife, and water quality are unknown at this time. At the Coalition, we support policies that advance protections and encourage active monitoring to ensure that harmful substances are not impacting this critical natural resource that we depend upon. This spill, and other major pollution events, like the one in East Palestine, Ohio, showcase the delicacy of our ecosystem and the need to protect it from harmful pollutants. It will take environmental organizations, municipalities, lawmakers, and companies alike to ensure that the Delaware River Watershed remains a safe and healthy resource for all.

Kelly Knutson

Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, Director