# Assessing Carbon Sources in Wastewater Treatment: Incident Lessons and Safer Alternatives Jun 3, 2026 [Articles](https://microc.com/resources/articles) **Industrial Chemical Incidents Offer a Broader Warning** Between January 2021 and October 2023, more than 825 hazardous chemical incidents were reported across the United States, an average of one every other day. These incidents included fires, explosions, leaks, and releases involving toxic and flammable substances, many of which resulted in injuries, fatalities, evacuations, and environmental damage. While these events span multiple industries, they share a common theme: chemical risk is pervasive wherever hazardous materials are stored, transported, or used operationally. Wastewater treatment is often viewed as lower risk than petrochemical or manufacturing sectors, but even essential public infrastructure is not immune to chemical hazards Within the same dataset, 13 hazardous chemical incidents occurred specifically in water and wastewater treatment facilities. In many cases, these facilities rely on external carbon sources like methanol to support biological nutrient removal (BNR). While effective, methanol introduces a set of safety and operational risks that deserve closer attention. **Methanol in BNR: Effective but Not Without Risk** Methanol has long been used as a supplemental carbon source to drive denitrification processes. However, its classification and behavior introduce inherent challenges: - Highly flammable: Methanol presents fire and explosion risks during storage, transport, and handling. - Toxic exposure risk: Inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact can cause serious health effects. - Logistical complexity: Bulk storage and delivery increase site risk and regulatory oversight requirements. These characteristics mirror many of the same risk factors seen across the broader chemical incident dataset, particularly where flammable liquids and volatile organics are involved in fires, explosions, and releases. This confirms carbon source selection is not just a process decision, it is also a safety decision. **A Shift Toward Safer Carbon Alternatives** As utilities evaluate ways to improve resilience and reduce operational risk, many are reconsidering traditional inputs like methanol. Safer alternatives like EOSi’s MicroC® focus on maintaining performance in denitrification while reducing hazards associated with storage and handling. MicroC®, and specifically MicroC® 2000, was developed to provide: - Readily biodegradable carbon to support efficient denitrification - Reduced hazard profile compared to highly flammable carbon sources like methanol - Operational stability, with consistent quality and predictable performance As the wastewater sector faces increasing pressure to meet nutrient limits while ensuring worker and community safety. Solutions like MicroC® help utilities reduce exposure and meet regulatory goals without compromising treatment outcomes. ##### | Coming Clean inc. (2023, November, 9) *Key Findings: Chemical Incident Tracking 2021-2023.*