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According to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the situation stemmed from a small chemical reaction at the Hillview Reservoir around 11 a.m. The reaction involved sodium hydroxide, a caustic chemical used to neutralize chlorine in the water treatment process before the supply reaches New York City.
The incident occurred while a new DEP contractor was loading sodium hydroxide into a truck, when something inside the truck reacted with the chemical. The DEP Hazmat team, along with Yonkers Fire and Police Departments, responded to the scene.
As a precaution, residents on the south end of the reservoir were advised to stay indoors until about 1:30 p.m. The shelter-in-place order was officially lifted by 2:15 p.m.
Authorities emphasized that no injuries were reported among the public or DEP staff, and that the city's water supply remains unaffected.
The area has since been cleaned up, and officials assured residents that there is no ongoing hazard related to the incident.
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