'It fails' or 'it blows up': 2 options left for toxic chemical leak in Garden Grove, officials say

[eppur_se_muova]

12. God knows what that water is absorbing, but MMA itself is slightly water-soluble.

Everything which has been stuck on the outside of that tank has been cooked and now leached off. I'm sure the plant has provisions for runoff -- it will have to be handled as toxic waste.

If you ever visit a chemical plant, you'll see they tend to be broken up into 'islands' separated by berms. Pipelines make double-dogleg turns to carry fluids from one island to another and can be closed by motorized valves in an emergency. Catwalks help workers move around, while vehicles take roads between -- every point must be accessible to fire truck. In the event of a spill, the berms help confine fluids to some extent, to minimize the spread of flames. Obviously NOT perfect; there tend to be no small chemical plant fires !