22-Year-Old Drinking Water Operator Recognized For Averting Deadly Disaster
While drinking water treatment operators regularly oversee critical operations to ensure the safety and availability of our most vital resource, it’s not often that they’re given special recognition for their work. But after going above and beyond to protect consumers, one such operator in Michigan has been honored.
“A New Baltimore Water Department employee has been recognized by Macomb County officials for his ‘incredible actions’ that averted a ‘potential catastrophic disaster’ by stopping a dangerous chemical from entering the city’s drinking water system,” Macomb Daily reported. “The proclamation … was approved unanimously by the 13-member Government Oversight Committee.”
The 22-year-old operator, Nick Jarskey, found that the city’s supply of fluoride — an additive used widely in municipal drinking water to promote tooth health — was actually sulfuric acid, which can be deadly in high enough doses.
“Four 55-gallon drums that were labeled and supposed to contain fluorosilicic acid, a water-based solution used by most water systems in the United States to mix with drinking water, instead contained 93% sulfuric acid,” per the Daily. “As Jarskey turned on a pump to begin mixing the chemical with water, he immediately noticed something was wrong — a chemical reaction that created a heat and mist.”
Jarskey stopped the pump, evacuated the room, and isolated the valves and tanks, keeping the drinking water from being contaminated and protecting the 14,000 residents served by his operation. The city has since stopped working with the chemical supplier, which has also been decertified by at least one agency.
Despite the heroics, Jarskey has demonstrated a modesty in the face of this commendation that is typical for his line of work.
“It’s nice that they did that,” he told the Daily of the committee’s recognition. “It’s just part of my job. I didn’t do anything above and beyond the call of duty. Anyone who was working would have caught it.”
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