The Chicopee City Council in Chicopee, Massachusetts has approved the necessary funding to commence renovations and repairs for the local waste water treatment facilities. The repairs will include both the water treatment facilities themselves and various water pollution control buildings located around the city. The funding was approved near the end of last year, putting a local sewer budget surplus to good use. Among the various repairs and renovations that are planned for the facilities is the process of asbestos abatement, or the safe removal of building materials constructed with or contaminated with asbestos fibers.
Asbestos is a mineral substance that was mined, fabricated and added to various industrial compounds throughout the twentieth century. It was widely used in varying industries as a powerful thermal insulator and fire retardant up until its use was heavily restricted in the 1980’s due to health concerns. Before the restrictions were applied, asbestos was used in the form of insulating boards, fabrics and blown materials in both commercial and residential construction. While asbestos does not generally pose a health hazard if it is not aggravated, demolition and renovation efforts can stir up asbestos fibers which then become potentially harmful.
Asbestos is harmful when inhaled or ingested. When its microscopic fibers enter the body, they can become lodged in the soft tissues that encase our vital organs. This soft tissue, or mesothelium, reacts by scarring, which over time can cause the development of malignant tumors. Mesothelioma, a cancer that can result from asbestos exposure, is an aggressive and incurable disease that claims thousands of American lives each year. Restrictions and regulations regarding how and where asbestos can be used as well as how it must be disposed of aim to curb the loss of life due to asbestos exposure.
State and federal regulations require contractors who work with asbestos contaminated materials to be specially licensed or certified. In the case of the Chicopee waste water facilities, Evergreen Construction of Springfield will be handling the asbestos abatement portion of the renovation contract. The company will receive $14,000 to remove and replace flooring which contains asbestos in the administration and control facility buildings. After the flooring is removed and properly disposed of it will be replaced with asbestos free vinyl flooring tiles.
The Mayor of Chicopee, Michael D. Bissonnette, is also planning equipment renovations and repairs totaling $50,000 for the local sewer plant. “This work represents a proactive maintenance repair that will prevent the conditions to deteriorate into a larger project,” said Stanley W. Kulig, the superintendent of public works.
