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First tonight, Hazmat Crews from all across our area responded to a chemical leak this afternoon in Rock Island.

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The chemical was so strong that it was burning through the concrete there.

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News 8's Christy Mergenthal has the latest.

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It was just before 1 o'clock Thursday afternoon when Hazmat Crews were called to the Rock Island Water Treatment Plant

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for a chemical spill coming from this tanker truck.

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This is a corrosive agent that the water treatment plant uses,

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and there was an overflow that caused spillage out from the building onto this driveway behind me.

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As plant employees evacuated, crews began suiting up,

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working quickly to stop the leak that had begun eating through concrete.

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They stopped the leak using some earthen berms with dirt, sand, and some commercial boom equipment,

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and had it contained pretty much to this facility within a short amount of time.

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The chemical hydrofluorosicilic acid is used to add fluoride to the plant's water.

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Although it poses a burn risk to skin, those living nearby were in no immediate danger.

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There was no inhalation hazard at all, so there was no need for us to evacuate any residents around the area.

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After several hours, crews were able to clean up the leak, allowing operations to return to normal.

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They had to cordon off the area, obviously, but as far as the treatment of the water

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and the amount of water being used by the public, there was no effect on that at all.

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In Rock Island, Christy Margithal, WQAD, Quad Cities, News 8.

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Thank you, Christy.

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Investigators tonight still haven't given an official estimate on just how much of that chemical spilled out.

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For a chemical spill coming from this tanker truck.

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Hydrofluorosicilic acid is an extremely dangerous and deadly chemical that's used in Austin.

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There was no mention, for example, of the material safety data sheets of how dangerous this chemical is.

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Number two is the fact that hydrofluorosicilic acid is also one of the most dangerous chemicals transported in Austin

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if there were to be a serious accident and a breaching of the container on the highway or the city streets.

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And a lot of people don't know the hazards associated with a spill and a breaching of one of these tankers

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that goes right through the city of Austin and to the treatment plants.