On October 21, 2016 at approximately 1415 hours, sodium hydroxide solution (11%) being transferred from a reactor vessel to a 5,000 gallon above ground storage tank overflowed at an AkzoNobel facility, causing an unknown amount of caustic material to be released. The sodium hydroxide solution entered a storm drain that flows to the Huron River. The storm sewer was closed off with a gate valve and inflatable bladder; however the spill was not contained and a discharge occurred to the Huron River.
Catch basins near the outfall contained a mixture of sodium hydroxide and storm water and was sampled by the Huron Fire Department. The contents of the catch basins had a pH as 12.87 SU.
