Water Recycling Employee Dies In Plant Explosion

A water industry employee died during an explosion at a facility in Texas this month.

“The body of Julian Gallardo, 23, of Midland was found in a burned-out structure at a Water Rescue Services site. Fort Worth-based Water Rescue Services provides water treatment technology to the energy industry,” KWTX reported.

Clients of Water Rescue Services include oil and gas operators. The company provides water recycling services.

“[Gallardo] was mixing chemicals at the facility when the explosion occurred,” Upstream reported, citing Midland's News Channel 10.

Sheriff Gary Painter made a statement, per News West 9.

"[Gallardo's] family has been notified," he said. "Preliminary investigation revealed chemicals were being mixed together and a spark ignited the chemicals, causing the explosion."

The explosion occurred about 10:30 a.m. on January 4 at the business and destroyed a building, two RVs and three other vehicles, the Midland Reporter-Telegram reported.

The county weighed in as follows: “Upon arrival, a structure was completely engulfed in flames. Once the flame was extinguished, personnel discovered the body of (company employee) Julian Gallardo within the structure,” per the Telegram.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) spokesperson Andrea Morrow said her agency is investigating the events.

"[Midland County officials] reported no evidence of a spill to the environment," she said, per News West 9.

An RV park near the explosion was evacuated. One evacuee said, per News West 9: "I was terrified. I looked out my back door and there was smoke going everywhere... I just started hollering at [my daughter and granddaughter,] 'Get the baby, get in the car and let’s get out of here!'"

Water and wastewater operators are sometimes at risk on the job, but perhaps less-so than they have been historically, according to a Bloomberg report.

"Fatal workplace accidents have declined in the past decade, said Kristin Dziczek, director of the Industry & Labor Group at the Center for Automotive Research. In 2013, 312 people died in U.S. manufacturing, including three in auto factories and six in part-supplier plants, she said, citing Labor Department data. About 4,600 people died on the job in the U.S., compared with 5,600 a decade ago,” the report said.

For similar stories, visit Water Online’s Labor Solutions Center.