SH1 in Waikato reopens after chemical spill

State Highway One near Putaruru has been reopened after hydrochloric acid was spilt across 50 metres of road-way.

The spill happened this morning and police evacuated a house near-by as a precaution.

Fire shift manager Jaron Phillips said fire fighters blocked the drains next to the road-way and cleaned the road of the hazardous chemicals while dressed in full body protective suits.

Mr Phillips said Environment Waikato staff had measured the acidic levels in the adjacent waterway and found them to be too high, so fire fighters were diluting the acidic water with fresh water.

The accident happened after two 200 litre drums of the chemical began spilling from a truck earlier this morning.

- NZHERALD STAFF