Water Industry
Chemical first aid for water treatment, wastewater and effluent sites
From drinking water production to wastewater treatment and industrial effluent management, the water industry relies on a wide range of hazardous chemicals to keep processes running safely and water supplies clean. The chemical hazard profile is demanding, the working environments are often remote and outdoor, and the scale at which these chemicals are used means that a splash or spill can involve significant volumes of highly corrosive substances.
Water treatment operates across three core stages. Primary treatment removes large debris and solids. Secondary treatment uses controlled bacteria and high oxygen levels to break down organic matter, with solids settling before effluent flows to a receiving environment or disinfection stage. Tertiary treatment involves a range of physical, chemical or biological processes — including the use of Ferric Chloride, Lime, Hydrogen Peroxide, Oxalic Acid, Hydrochloric Acid and Sulphuric Acid for pH correction, disinfection and chemical precipitation. Sludge treatment further involves limes and nitrites, while odour control from these processes requires sulphuric acid, bleach and caustic soda.
Each of these chemicals presents a direct splash hazard to workers involved in chemical dosing, tank management, equipment maintenance, and process monitoring. Lime — calcium hydroxide — requires specific attention: dry lime must be brushed off the skin before any liquid irrigation begins, because adding water to dry lime creates an exothermic reaction that can worsen the burn. Once wet, lime forms a highly caustic slurry that continues to cause damage. Ferric chloride causes rapid, dark staining burns that can be deceptively severe. Caustic soda and sulphuric acid at treatment concentrations cause serious tissue damage within seconds of contact.
What makes chemical first aid provision particularly challenging in the water sector is location. Chemical dosing points, pump houses, and treatment stages are spread across large sites — often outdoors, in confined spaces, or at remote pumping stations that cannot practically be served by fixed plumbed emergency showers. Lone working is common. Response times to fixed provision can easily exceed the critical 10-second window within which decontamination must begin to prevent serious injury.
Diphoterine® directly addresses this challenge. Portable, requiring no plumbing and no installation, Diphoterine® units can be stationed at every chemical dosing point, pump house, and storage area identified in the site COSHH risk assessment. A full-body decontamination requires approximately 5 litres — compared to 900 litres for an emergency safety shower — making it practical at remote locations where large-volume water supply is unavailable. Its active chemistry renders the full range of water treatment chemicals harmless: sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, caustic soda, ferric chloride, sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide all fall within Diphoterine®'s active range. The person treating the injury does not need to identify which chemical caused the splash before beginning treatment.
Where hydrofluoric acid is present — used in some analytical laboratory processes and certain industrial effluent treatment applications — Hexafluorine® is the dedicated Prevor decontaminant, used alongside calcium gluconate gel as part of a specific HF first aid protocol.
Chemicals of note in this industry:
Ferric Chloride, Lime (Calcium Hydroxide), Sulphuric Acid, Hydrochloric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrogen Peroxide, Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach), Oxalic Acid, Hydrofluoric Acid.
COSHH and compliance
Water and wastewater treatment sites must demonstrate that emergency decontamination provision is adequate for each chemical handling location — including remote pump stations and outdoor dosing points where fixed showers cannot be installed. Portable Diphoterine® provision directly addresses this gap and supports a fully documented COSHH compliance position. Diphoterine® systems conform with EN15154 Parts 3 and 4 — the European Standards for Emergency Eye and Skin Decontamination Equipment.
Contact DipHex on 01622 851000 or at enquiries@diphex.com to discuss provision for your water treatment sites.