Waikato pipeline shutdown after chemical truck explosion

11.45am

The pipeline that supplies Auckland with some of its drinking water has been shutdown after a truck laden with chemicals exploded in Hamilton last night, spilling some of its contents into the Waikato River.

The chemicals, which included formaldehyde, ethanol, paints and corrosive acid, were on a trailer when they burst into flames at the intersection of Cobham Dr and Normandy Ave about 8pm.

Truckloads of contaminated water were today removed from around the Waikato Hospital, in Pembroke St about 2km from the river.

The fire led to several chemical explosions which shook houses several kilometres away and prompted a full chemical turnout by the Fire Service.

Parts of the city were covered by a thick cloud of smoke from the fire as firefighters donned full hazard suits to fight the blaze.

Watercare Services spokesperson Owen Cook today told Radio New Zealand (RNZ) that the Waikato pipeline had been shut down as a precautionary measure.

Mr Cook said the pipeline would re-open once Environment Waikato had conducted tests to determine exactly what sort of chemicals have washed into the river.

Environment Waikato today confirmed that several hundred litres of chemicals may have escaped into the river and industries which used river water had been notified.

Environment Waikato spokesman David Stagg said it was hoped the relatively small level of chemicals would be diluted to a safe level by the river water.

Mr Stagg said today the river would be monitored throughout the day.

"There is some (chemicals) in the river. We don't know how much."

"We are looking at the river in terms of the river health.

"The amounts which went out are relatively small and the river is large and dilution may be able to save the day," Mr Stagg said.

He said the chemicals were not cumulative and would be dispersed by the river water.

He said three truckloads -- about 30,000 litres -- of contaminated liquid from the firefighting had been collected for disposal.

Some of that liquid would have reached the river but it would have already been diluted by the firefighting.

"But nevertheless it was at a strength which was of concern," Mr Stagg said.

Firefighters were still at the scene of the explosion today, cleaning up the area and continuing to remove contaminated water from the scene.

Hamilton City Council dangerous goods inspector Peter Lee said the truck exploded just outside the built-up area and not a long way from the hospital.

"We were very, very fortunate it was such a mild night. The fumes and smoke that was coming off the truck unit could have gone towards the hospital and we would have had a real problem there."

He said a passing truck noticed the fire in the trailer and alerted the driver who unhooked the trailer and moved his truck out of harm's way.

He said one of the early concerns was the contaminants in the river, particularly downstream at Ngaruawahia, which was supplied with water from the river.

"I hope the water flow on the Waikato River was strong enough to disperse it all."

He said Environment Waikato was expected to monitor the river for much of the day.

- NZPA

Further reading
nzherald.co.nz/environment