Avon Lake Chemical Leak: City Water Not Impacted

AVON LAKE, OH — The chemical leak that spilled into Lake Erie on June 26 was limited to a 108 inch diameter storm outfall, the city said on Wednesday in a statement. The spillage into the lake will not impact the city's raw water intake or properties near the park.

The spill came from the Ford Truck Plant in Avon Lake. The company released a statement saying it had identified the source of the spill and will make every effort to clean up the chemical leak. Clean-up is being coordinated across several agencies, including the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio EPA, the Coast Guard, and Avon Lake police, fire, and public works.

(To stay up to date on local stories, subscribe to the Patch Avon-Avon Lake newsletter. As news breaks and the story develops, you will be the first to receive updates from Patch.)

Water samples from the lake have been taken and are currently being tested. The city says its primary concern is clean-up of the outfall and the storm pipe between Lake Erie and the Ford plant.

"Ford is very conscious of the environment and has mobilized multiple resources to remove any pollutants and clean the areas impacted," Ford said in a statement.

FOX8 reported on June 26 that as much as 5,000 gallons of a rust-proofing material leaked, after a valve failure, into a storm sewer. North winds may have played a role in keeping the leak contained in a small bay, the EPA told FOX8.

The chemical leaked is a painting solution used in E-coating, a process when an auto part is dipped into a solution, then uses an electric voltage to seal the coat to the part. The E-coat material was stored in a 50,000-gallon tank.

The Ohio EPA has said there is no known impact from the chemicals on wildlife.

Article image public domain