According to, (Wagner, 2018), hazards are substances which can cause harm to individuals. Hazards can either be natural, environmental or industrious. My workplace is located near the Southwest Houston 6868 freeway. The region has over 40 wastewater plants which affect humans within a 5mile radius due to the chemicals emitted during the water treatment process.

List of Hazardous material in the Southwest Houston wastewater plant region.

Hydrogen Sulphide, Chlorine gas, carbon dioxide, Ozone, and Sodium hypochlorite.

Hazard analysis

(O’Neil et al., 2004), in his article clearly states that among the chemicals listed above, the most likely hazard material is Chlorine gas. The hazard that is Toxic to humans is Hydrogen Sulphide. The hazards requiring a unique response are sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen sulfide. The most Persistent to the environment is Carbon dioxide and Ozone.

Recommendations

Some steps should be taken to deal with the emission of hazardous wastewater chemicals. Training workers on the proper first aid procedure for each compound. Additionally, the wastewater plant can put in place gas detection equipment’s to monitor and detect gas leakages.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for Hazardous chemicals.

Chlorine solution: http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9925755

Hydrogen Sulphide:http://www.labchem.com/tools/msds/msds/LC15470.pdf

Carbon dioxide:https://www.boconline.co.uk/en/images/10021714_tcm410-39607.pdf

Ozone:http://www.amsbio.com/images/featureareas/ozilla/Ozilla-MSDS.pdf

Sodium hypochlorite:https://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9925000

Agency: U.S Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)

Contact Info: 053-916 0600

Area of responsibility: Air pollution

USEPA is the government body responsible for protecting the Houston region against the emission of hazardous chemicals, (Ampleman et al., 2011). The agency is registered under the clean air act. The resources it has put in place for mitigation include a vulnerability assessment tool, The Table Top exercise tool for a risk assessment tool and the Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT). The climate ready Water utilities initiative uses the tools mentioned above to provide individuals with the required training and tool to mitigate the occurrence of a climate disaster.

Wagner, D. (2018). The unseen Hazards of Wastewater Treatment Plants-The monitor.

Retrieved from: http://www.indsci.com/the-monitor-blog/wastewater-treatment-plants/

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). List (2018).

Retrieved from: http://www.sciencelab.com/msdsList.php

O’Neill, E. J., Hais, A., & E, P. (2004). Wastewater Security. Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education, 129(1), 41-46.

Ampleman, M., Baranowski, C., Posner, A., & Whitler, J. (2011). USEPA’s Climate Ready Water Utilities Initiative. Journal‐American Water Works Association, 103(9), 28-31.