Contaminated Water From Detco Fire Will Be Treated

State environmental officials say the city of Conway`s wastewater utility will treat contaminated water from the Detco Industries fire. The water was kept by earthen dams from running into local rivers and streams. Analysis of the water shows much lower levels of contamination than immediately after the fire. The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality says about 125,000 gallons of water with higher concentrations of chemicals were pumped out before the latest tests. Also other runoff from elsewhere in the city mixed with the contaminated water, diluting it. About two million gallons of water needs to be treated. A fire and explosions on Tuesday destroyed the plant and led to runoff of chemicals inside the plant. Detco makes industrial chemicals and aerosol products, such as cleaners and disinfectants. Officials say a valve leaking propane gas apparently was the ignition point for the fire.