Evacuation order lifted following chemical incident at Gallipolis Water Treatment Plant

GALLIPOLIS, Ohio (WCHS) — UPDATED – 3:25 p.m., 5/27/26

Most residents near the Gallipolis Water Treatment Plant are allowed to return following an evacuation order given after a reported chemical incident Wednesday morning, emergency officials said.

Residents in the immediate area of the plant near the intersection of Chestnut Street and Smithers Avenue remain under an evacuation order at this time, though the shelter-in-place for nearby businesses was lifted, according to emergency officials.

The update allowing residents to return came at 3 p.m., a little over three and a half hours since the chemical incident was originally reported, according to an updated social media post from the Gallia County Emergency Management Agency.

Officials said the plant will remain closed to the public while cleanup continues, though it won’t affect the operation of the plant or water service to the residence. Additionally, the post said there is no hazard to the water supply and no immediate threat to the public.

Fire and hazardous materials crews are still on scene working to assess the situation and mitigate the incident, officials said.

Officials are continuing to ask the public to avoid the area so emergency crews can complete their work.

The post said that additional information will be released as soon as it becomes available.

ORIGINAL STORY

Residents near the Gallipolis Water Treatment Plant have been evacuated after a chemical incident was reported Wednesday morning, emergency officials said.

Crews responded to the plant shortly before 11:30 a.m. after staff reported “an odor caused by the mixing of two treatment chemicals during a delivery,” according to an alert from the Gallia County Emergency Management Agency.

The alert said the incident has been contained to the plant.

As a precautionary measure, a shelter-in-place order for surrounding blocks and the nearby Cliffside Golf Course was put in place but has since been lifted.

Emergency personnel said no injuries or impacts to water have been reported.

While officials maintain there is no immediate threat to the public, area residents are asked to avoid the area to allow room for mitigation efforts.

Gallipolis police and fire crews, EMS and a hazardous materials team have responded to the scene.

This story will be updated as new details become available.