Hazmat Incident at Akron Water Plant Prompts Shelter-in-Place Order

Published: Jun 3, 2026 - 4:50 p.m.

By Cleveland13 Staff

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RAVENNA, OHIO — A major hazardous materials incident at the Akron Water Plant in Franklin Township drew a large emergency response Wednesday afternoon, triggering a localized shelter-in-place order and resulting in three hospitalizations. At approximately 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, 2026, the Portage County Hazardous Materials Team, along with Akron Fire, Kent Fire, and other local first responders, were dispatched to the water treatment facility at 1570 Ravenna Road. Officials confirmed the crisis was caused by a chemical delivery error. A shipment of alum was mistakenly pumped into two tanks containing sodium hypochlorite, a chemical commonly known as bleach. The accidental mixture caused an immediate chemical reaction, producing highly toxic chlorine gas. Three individuals were directly affected by the toxic fumes, including two City of Akron Water Plant employees and the delivery truck driver. All three were treated by emergency medical services and transported to a local hospital. The water plant was immediately evacuated and temporarily shut down as specialized hazardous materials teams worked to clear the gas from the building and secure the perimeter. Out of an abundance of caution, authorities have issued a shelter-in-place order for all residents and businesses within a half-mile radius of the plant. If you are within the affected area, emergency officials instruct you to: * Stay indoors and do not leave your building. * Close all windows and exterior doors tightly. * Turn off all HVAC units and air conditioners to prevent outside air from circulating into your home or business. Anyone in the area who detects a strong, bleach-like odor or begins experiencing respiratory symptoms, such as coughing or shortness of breath, is urged to seek medical treatment immediately. City officials emphasized that the public water supply remains entirely safe. The water currently circulating through Akron's distribution system was not affected by the chemical reaction and requires no special boiling or filtering. Traffic along Ravenna Road, a critical stretch bordering the City of Kent, is currently restricted to accommodate emergency vehicles. The public is being asked to avoid the area to give first responders adequate room to work. Akron city officials and Portage Prepares will continue to provide updates as the situation develops. For the most up-to-date information, residents are encouraged to monitor the Portage Prepares Facebook page. -------------------- At Cleveland 13 News, we strive to provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable reporting. If you spot an error, omission, or have information that may need updating, please email us at tips@cleveland13news.com. As a community-driven news network, we appreciate the help of our readers in ensuring the integrity of our reporting.