Potential toxic lithium-ion batteries, which were broken from burned-out electric vehicles within the Eaton fire and transported to a short lived collection in Azus, have triggered concerns about toxic metals that were triggered in nearby drinking water sources.
The important Watermaster in San Gabriel, an agency that’s liable for the security of the groundwater supply for nearly 2 million inhabitants of Los Angeles County Foothill BLVD.
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Lithium-ion batteries can release toxic metals resembling lead, nickel, copper, cobalt, Thallium and silver, an “ecotoxicity potential” that’s related to the collapse of those compact, efficient batteries from EVS in addition to cell phones, computers and video games Institute of Health (NIH) and other experts.
The EPA has arrange a site for dangerous materials on the Altadena Golf Course. This website will soon be used for the gathering and processing of the more dangerous lithium-ion batteries, said Drabek. “We are currently using both Staging areas. When we complete our mission, we want to use the golf course more, ”she said.
The San Gabriel River is a channel for local rainwater, snow melt from the San Gabriel Mountains and imported water from Northern California, which runs from the pipes connected to its surfaces. This water – billions of gallons per 12 months – is spread into large groundwater reservoir, which is barely a number of hundred meters north and south of the danger drop in Lario. The groundwater of the important pool of San Gabriel and central are drinking water sources -fountain water, which is utilized by agencies and cities from the San Gabriel Valley and the cities of the district of San Gabriel and in Southeast -La County.
“Our greatest concern is the destruction of lithium-ion batteries on this site, Lario Park, which is directly on the San Gabriel River next to each other” February 19.
“Water conveys through this river,” she added. “It is our critical supply path to the San Gabriel basin (groundwater manager).”
Gardner was shown pictures of the EPA's operation on the Lario location and said that the agency was somewhat relieved when he learned something concerning the general process and air monitoring system of the EPA. However, she said that the handling of lithium batteries is carried out in a possible location and is a protracted -term risk of drinking water pollution.
“They crush them on the floor. You have stored a vinyl, rubberized paper that prevents everything from getting into the ground when it comes to getting into the ground, ”she said. “But it can break. It can tear. You have a paved area 500 feet. Why not move there?
“If this barrier is broken in any way and the materials get into the bottom and turn into a part of the infiltration of water over time, it will possibly contaminate the groundwater,” added Gardner.
The EPA replied that the area is small, the size of a small room. The pad in which the material is crushed is covered and air monitors around battery processing have not displayed high contamination levels.
“If that happened, it could be a banks and we might hire the corporate,” said Anna Drabek, spokeswoman for the EPA.
Gardner wanted to know whether the recent rains of one of the dangerous waste into the San Gabriel river or in the nearby percolation ponds.
The EPA said they were prepared for rain and that no materials flowed into the river.
Drabek said that there is no worry from the rains. Both concrete railings and straw -like cylinders that absorb liquids and sediment are between the battery processing area and the river, said Drabek. “We rated the world and there was no seepage from the web site,” she added.
The water master finds out where to use water samples for tests that could come from lithium-ion batteries, said Gardner. The agency works with cities and water authorities that pump water from the water distribution areas of the Upper Canyon north of the Laario location. These include: Glendora, Azusa, California American Water Co. and Valley County Water District.
She said the agency asked the EPA to work with them and share the test costs, but received no answer.
It would like to carry out your own ground and air sample at the Lario location. “We couldn't be tested on the web site,” said Gardner.
The former executive director of Watermaster, Russ Bryden, gave two presentations about the situation, one on February 10th in the San Gabriel Valley Council of Regionalments and the others before the city council of Duarte on February 11th.
Gardner said that the EPA had left it and local cities in the dark about the opening of the site and said that it accelerated the clean -up work so that the reconstruction could begin faster.
At the end of January, this led to angry protests by residents, city officials, state and nationwide elected representatives were not informed about the location of dangerous waste. About 600 people came to one of Senator Susan Rubio, D-West Covina, organized town hall session. Bed with health and security issues, which were asked by the website, and frustrated in the answers they hear. They made it known with screams and catcalls, combined with more requirements for explanations.
In the end, they received an apology from the federal official who carried out the operation because they were not granted the mayors with the location via the website.
All in all, the Eaton Fire, who influenced Altadena, Pasadena and Sierra Madre, destroyed more than 9,000 structures and killed at least 17 people when it tore through these cities from January 7th.
Below is stacking on piles of rubble, a large part of which is potentially dangerous: This material includes burned -out cars, batteries, color, cleaning agents and solvents, oils and pesticides. The removal of dangerous materials that end on February 28 is the first phase. A second procedure of the US Army Corps of Engineers that eliminates the rest of the material irresponsible (owners have the choice of choosing this second process or having a private contractor who do the work). Has already began.
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