Limburg emergency services responded en masse on Thursday evening in Hasselt after a leak was discovered in a 5,000-litre drum of sulphuric acid at De Watergroep, a company that supplies water to Flanders.
There were no injuries or risks to the surrounding area.
At around 8pm, a fault was detected in the descaling device at De Watergroep. Firefighters donned protective suits to respond to the emergency, and an industrial cleaning company was called in as backup. In the end, the acid was drained into an emergency holding tank.
Sulphuric acid is used to descale drinking water. The chemical causes skin irritation, redness and itching and can cause burns in the most severe cases. It is also harmful to the eyes.
In the event of contact with the skin or eyes, it is advisable to rinse them thoroughly with water.
