As the Municipal Commissioner of a major city, you are alerted at midnight that an industrial tank failure at an upstream private chemical plant has released toxic industrial effluents moving rapidly toward the main river intake that supplies the city's drinking water. The effluent is projected to reach the intake pumps within two hours. The plant engineers propose injecting an unverified neutralizing chemical directly into the river channel to decompose the toxin immediately. Which of the following actions represents the most procedurally sound and effective emergency response administrative measure?
- AApprove the immediate injection of the chemical neutralizer into the river channel as recommended by plant engineers to prevent the toxic plume from reaching the reservoir.
- Immediately order the precautionary shutdown of the river intake valves, activate the statutory Disaster Management Emergency Water Supply Plan, and coordinate technical spill containment upstream.Answer
- CIssue an executive order for the immediate permanent demolition of the chemical facility while keeping water intake open until laboratory testing confirms contamination.
- DDelegate all containment and public safety communications to the private plant management while waiting for a formal joint audit report before taking administrative action.
Answer
Immediately order the precautionary shutdown of the river intake valves, activate the statutory Disaster Management Emergency Water Supply Plan, and coordinate technical spill containment upstream.
The correct response prioritizes immediate public health risk isolation by closing water intake valves before toxic effluent reaches the city supply. It aligns with statutory disaster protocols by activating pre-planned emergency water distribution and deploying validated containment measures under proper regulatory supervision.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Statutory Protocol Adherence and Public Safety Primacy in Crisis Management
Estimated Time:2m 0s