190,000-Litre Sewage Tank Explodes in Connecticut

An explosion occurred around 11:45 AM on October 24th at a facility operated by the Water Pollution Control Authority in Bantam, near Litchfield, Connecticut. The incident prompted a response from both the Bantam and Litchfield Fire Departments, alongside paramedics, after reports of a sewage tank explosion.

Upon arrival, emergency teams were informed by site employees that a flammable gas explosion had taken place in a sludge tank containing approximately 190,000 liters of sewage. Although no fire ensued, firefighters immediately secured the area, tested for toxic and flammable gases, and inspected for structural damage. Some damage was found on the tank’s containment lid, though it was confirmed that there was no immediate threat to public safety or the environment.

Power to the impacted building was cut as a precaution, and the Water Pollution Control Authority notified both the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and a third-party engineering firm. Preliminary findings suggest that flammable sewer gas, produced by the natural decomposition process, may have encountered an ignition source, leading to the explosion. A comprehensive investigation is currently underway.

Image credit: Bantam Fire Company. All rights reserved.