
Public works crews conducting routine maintenance checks Friday morning discovered a leak from a chlorine tank at a Round Lake Beach water pump facility, prompting the response of over two dozen specialized HazMat technicians.
The Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District responded at 10:27 a.m. Friday to a village water pump facility at 1641 Wood Street in Round Lake Beach for a report of a chlorine leak.
The facility is located on the east side of Tony’s Fresh Market off Rollins Road and is maintained by the Round Lake Beach Public Works Department.
The facility is regularly checked on Monday and Friday each week, Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District Lt. Dennis Ostrander said at the scene.
“They happened to check it today and then they smelled the chlorine,” Ostrander said.
After discovering the leak, the public works crews called for the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District.
The initial fire crews investigated and found a spare chlorine tank, which Ostrander said was 150 pounds, leaking.
The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to bring technicians who specialize in hazardous materials (HazMat).
“Our main concern was the amount of chlorine that was leaking,” Ostrander said.
Although evacuations were not needed, village officials notified schools and businesses in the area, which Ostrander said was done “just in case it escalated to something more than what it was.”
A total of 27 specialized technicians from fire departments in Lake and McHenry counties responded, Ostrander said.
Technicians donning HazMat protective gear were seen entering the facility starting at around 12:10 p.m.
Crews installed a cap on the tank to contain the leak, Round Lake Beach Village Manager Scott Hilts said.
“The chlorine container was not connected to our water system, so our water operations are running as normal and quality remains unaffected by the incident,” Hilts said.
Ostrander said that although the first arriving firefighters were medically evaluated as a precaution, there were no injuries.
The Round Lake Beach Police Department and Round Lake Beach Emergency Management Agency assisted with traffic and scene control.
Emergency crews began to clear off from the scene at around 1:30 p.m.
Ostrander said the leak was brought under control quickly and the response went smoothly.