Tuakau residents evacuated after hazardous chemical enters drains

Tuakau residents who were evacuated after a large amount of an unknown chemical entered the drains are now allowed to return home.

Fire and Emergency (FENZ) said firefighters responded to the “hazardous substances incident” in the north Waikato town at 4pm.

In an update at 10.30pm, Assistant District Commander Brad Harvey said the crews of four remaining fire appliances still on site would depart shortly.

He said firefighters had been flushing the drains and atmospheric readings now 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.”

Earlier, FENZ said residents had been evacuated from houses in Kowhai Street, Cottle Lane and George Street, and another two households had also chosen to leave.

“Other residents remaining in the area are advised to stay inside with their doors and windows closed to avoid the risk of being exposed to fumes.”

Waikato District Council said 15 homes had been evacuated and it was working with FENZ to flush wastewater pipes after reports of an odour of fuel in a Tuakau street.

FENZ has established a control centre in the area while the issue is addressed.

Police have assisted FENZ with the evacuations.

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.

“The nature and origin of the substance is not yet known,” said FENZ.

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.