vvEPA
     Umtect States
     Environmental Protection
     Agency
Incompatible Chemicals Storage
A sanitary survey quick reference guide for determining how to
properly store chemicals at a water treatment plant
                                          Dos and Don'ts
             Do not store liquid chemicals and dry chemicals together regardless of which
             compatibility group they fall into.

             Do not store chemicals from different compatibility groups together. Water treatment
             chemicals are divided into six incompatible groups: Acids, Bases, Salts & Polymers,
             Adsorption Powders, Oxidizing Powders, and Compressed Gasses. To ensure the safety
             of system personnel and the system itself, store each of these groups of incompatible
             chemicals separately (compatibility groups listed on reverse side).

             Do not store products such as paint, antifreeze, detergent, oil, grease, fuel, solvent, and
             beverages in the same area as water treatment chemicals.

             DO store all chemicals in secure, well-ventilated areas that are free of moisture
             (especially dry chemicals), excessive heat, ignition sources and flammable/ combustible
             materials.

             DO see your Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) if you encounter a chemical that is not
             listed on one of the following tables (MSDS required by OSHA Regulation
             29.CFR. 1910.1200 for all organizations/water systems that handle hazardous chemicals).
                                              Warning
             Storing incompatible chemicals together could create a hazardous reaction such as the
             production of toxic gas, accelerated corrosion, or an exothermic reaction (a chemical
             reaction that releases heat), which could result in an explosion and/or fire. This reaction
             could be catastrophic, resulting in loss of life and rendering the water plant inoperable.

             Examples:
Examples of Incompatible Chemicals
Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC), an adsorption
powder, should not be mixed with Potassium
Permanganate, an oxidizing powder
Calcium Hypochlorite, a combination base/oxidizer
should not be exposed to moisture or mixed with
viscous fluid such as oil.
Concentrated Sulfuric Acid, a strong acid, should not
be mixed with Concentrated Sodium Hydroxide, a
strong base.
Calcium Oxide, a strong base available only as a
powder, should not be exposed to moisture
Hazardous Reactions
Excessive heat generation, with the possibility of
explosion and fire. Note: PAC alone is extremely
combustible.
Excessive heat, fire or explosion possible. Can
provide an ignition source for combustible materials.
Excessive heat and liquid explosion. Note: Highly
concentrated acids and bases when mixed together
will have a much more hazardous reaction than
weak acids and bases.
Excessive heat, fire. Can provide an ignition source
for combustible materials.

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  Compatibility Groups: Common Water Treatment Chemicals
Group I: Acids
Name
Acetic Acid
Hydrofluosilicic Acid
Hydrogen Fluoride Acid
Hydrochloric Acid
Nitric Acid
Common Name
Ethanoic Acid
Fluosilic Acid
Hydrofluoric Acid
Muriatic Acid
Sulfuric Acid
Available Forms
Liquid
Liquid
Liquid
Liquid
Liquid
Group II: Bases
Name
Calcium Hydroxide
Calcium Oxide
Calcium Hypochlorite
Sodium Bicarbonate
Sodium Carbonate
Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium Hypochlorite
Sodium Silicate
Common Name
Hydrated Lime
Quicklime
HTH
Sodium Bicarbonate
Soda Ash
Caustic Soda, Lye
Bleach
Water Glass
Available Forms1
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Liquid, Dry
Liquid
Liquid
Certain concentrated dry chemicals, like calcium hypochlorite and calcium oxide (quicklime) will produce an exothermic reaction
when exposed to liquid or even small amounts of moisture.
Group III: Salts & Polymers
Name
Aluminum Sulfate
Copper Sulfate
Ferric Chloride
Ferric Sulfate
Ferrous Sulfate
Polyaluminum Chloride
Polyelectrolytes (Cationic,
Anionic, Non-ionic)
Sodium Aluminate
Sodium Fluoride
Sodium Hexametaphosphate
Sodium Phosphate
Zinc Orthophosphate
Common Name
Alum
Blue Stone
Ferrichlor
Ferri-Floc
Copperas
PACL
Polymer
Soda Alum
Sodium Fluoride
Glassy Phosphate
Sodium Phosphate
Zinc Ortho
Available Forms
Liquid, Dry
Liquid, Dry
Liquid, Dry
Dry
Liquid Dry
Liquid
Liquid, Dry
Liquid, Dry
Liquid, Dry
Dry
Liquid, Dry
Liquid
Group IV: Adsorption Powders
Name
Powdered Activated Carbon
Granular Activated Carbon
Common Name
PAC
GAC
Available Forms
Dry
Dry
Group V: Oxidizing Powders
Name
Potassium Permanganate
Common Name
Permanganate
Available Forms
Dry
Group VI: Compressed Gases
Name
Ammonia
Chlorine
Carbon Dioxide
Sulfur Dioxide
Common Name
Ammonia
Gas Chlorine
Dry Ice
SO2
Available Forms
Liquid, Gas
Liquid, Gas
Liquid, Gas
Liquid, Gas
Incompatible Chemicals
Within This Category3
Chlorine
Ammonia
-
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Each compressed gas should have its own separate storage/feed area.
Chlorine and ammonia should be stored separately from each other, as well as from all other chemical groups.
Office of Water (4606M)
EPA816-F-09-002
January 2008
www.epa.gov/safewater

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