Explosion Cause Revealed At Water Treatment Plant

ODENTON, MD — Officials determined the cause of a minor explosion that recently damaged equipment at an Odenton water treatment plant.

The Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works said the May 27 power surge stemmed from an ongoing electrical outage at the Piney Orchard Water Reclamation Facility. The damage, however, caused minimal disruptions to county services, and electrical repairs were quickly completed.

"During a multi-day BGE power outage, a BGE transformer created a power surge while undergoing maintenance by a BGE crew," DPW spokesperson Matt Diehl told Patch in an email. "The power surge proceeded up through our electrical panel, creating a surge which subsequently blew out the unoccupied Electrical Room window adjacent to the panel. Subsequently, electrical wiring and electrical insulation were damaged through the heat generated by the surge."

Related: Explosion At Odenton Water Treatment Plant Draws Firefighters

Diehl said the BGE transformer, an electrical panel and an electrical room window were damaged and required replacement.

All infrastructure repairs were completed by mid-June, but the window still needed to be replaced by that time. The total cost of the damage is still being assessed.

"County services were nominally impacted at the outset of the event," Diehl said. "Due to a quick response time, services were not interrupted as back up generators were brought in to support county utilities."

Nobody was hurt in the explosion, which drew fire engines, ambulances and police cars. Patch also saw multiple BGE trucks and two tractor-trailers labeled "sewage only" on the scene.

The DPW spill map does not show any sewage leaks stemming from the explosion.

Patch visited the plant, located at 8791 Piney Orchard Parkway, on June 5. From outside the gates, a reporter could see a window boarded up, what appeared to be a new generator and a new outdoor electrical box surrounded by temporary fencing.

"The window will remain boarded until serviced," Diehl told Patch on June 13, noting that he expected the window to be replaced soon. "A secondary generator was brought to the location in order to continue to provide service to the community on a temporary capacity. Power has been restored to the location at this time and the back up generators are currently not in use."

There were also several red tags from Exelon on a utility pole labeled "100K fuse" and containing the date of the explosion. Exelon is the parent company that owns BGE.

"BGE had to replace a transformer in order to begin repairs. Due to the power surge through the transformer through our site electrical panel, many components require replacement," Diehl said. "The old transformer was properly 'locked out' to ensure no electricity would flow and the red lock out devices indicate the unit is not energized."

BGE said it responded quickly.

"We are working with local government officials to determine the cause of the electrical incident," BGE spokesperson Stephanie Weaver told Patch in a June 18 email. "There was limited damage to BGE electrical facilities, which crews repaired same day in preparation to restore service."