Two need medical treatment after chemical scare in Waikato

The nature and origin of the substance is not yet known, FENZ says. Two people have been treated by ambulance officers at the scene of an unknown chemical incident in the Waikato town of Tuakau. Emergency services were called to the area on Tuesday afternoon when the chemical was detected in water, causing a strong fuel or LPG smell.

Fire and Emergency (FENZ) said firefighters responded to the "hazardous substances incident" at 4pm. It said 10 homes were evacuated, and two other households self-evacuated. FENZ flushed out drains and returned the atmosphere to safe levels.

Residents were allowed to return home around 10:30pm last night. An ambulance spokesperson said two people received medical treatment at the scene, but did not need to be taken to hospital. In an update at 10.30pm, Assistant District Commander Brad Harvey said firefighters had been flushing the drains and atmospheric readings showed the air quality in and around them had returned to safe levels.

"Residents who were evacuated earlier this evening are able to return home. The advice to other residents to stay inside with doors and windows shut has also been lifted, Harvey said. "The scene will be left in the hands of local water management staff.

The nature and source of the substance which prompted the emergency response has not yet been established. Waikato District Council said there was no impact on drinking water or stormwater networks, and no issues with drinking water quality. Specialist advice has been sought from the Queensland Fire Department to help identify the substance and FENZ was working with the Waikato District Council and Watercare to develop a plan to flush the drains safely.

Waikato mayor Aksel Bech said a strong fuel or LPG smell was detected near the water treatment plant. He said the chemical substance was suspected to be from an underground petrol or LPG type of storage tank. "[That] led us to believe that perhaps there might have been an issue from inside of one of the petrol stations in Tuakau, it would have to be somewhere with a bit of volume in order to actually be able to produce a smell.

Very quickly when that smell was detected the water that goes into the watercare facility was diverted off into a pump so as not to contaminate anything within the plant. That is under control. Watercare had been going from manhole to manhole to try and find the source of the spill, Bech said.