Chlorine release in Horseshoe Bay due to mistake; all-clear given
Map of the affected area in east Horseshoe Bay. Image courtesy of city of Horseshoe Bay
Residents in two east Horseshoe Bay neighborhoods were given the all-clear at around 1:24 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, after chlorine fumes were released into the air at the city’s Central Water Plant. Around 88 residents were told to remain indoors following the incident.
Police went door to door at around 10 a.m. to notify residents of the hazardous air.
No injuries were reported. The chlorine irritated eyes and noses but did not cause any serious health problems, according to Horseshoe Bay officials. Six employees and a truck driver who mixed the wrong chemicals in a holding tank at the plant were sent to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center and released without injuries. All are back to work.
City Manager Jeff Koskas said the all-clear came a few hours later than initially expected.
“We wanted to be overly protective,” Koskas said at 1:10 p.m. “The plant is still producing some fumes, and we just want to give it time to slow down some more. It’s only showing up in the immediate area around the plant.”
City Public Information Officer Dan Herron told DailyTrib.com a delivery truck driver put the wrong chemical in his tank when he loaded it in Austin. The incorrect chemical went into a holding tank at the water plant and interacted with the correct compound, causing a reaction that released chlorine gas from the tank vent.
“This gas drifted in the south wind to the local area, burning eyes and causing nasal irritation,” read a warning sent to nearby residents via text, email, and phone. “The tank was shut within minutes, but the off-gases continued to create an air exposure issue.”
Hazmat crews immediately began cleanup. Herron said water at the plant was not affected and is safe to drink.
Herron praised those responding to the accident, including the Sunrise Beach Volunteer Fire Department and its chief, Patrick Cates.
“This has been a first-class response,” Herron said. “We have trained for this, and everyone followed the process to make sure the public was not in any danger.”