Texas water park workers hospitalized over ‘improperly mixed pool chemicals’

Sixteen employees and contractors were transported to nearby hospitals on Wednesday morning after "improperly mixed pool chemicals" at a Texas water park caused a chemical reaction on its opening day.

Local officials in the city of Webster in Texas said in a statement that on Wednesday morning a third-party contractor at the newly opened Great Wolf Lodge in Webster improperly mixed pool chemicals, which caused a chemical reaction. The incident occurred in an isolated building separate from the hotel and water park, the officials said.

Approximately five individuals evacuated the building, per authorities, and 16 employees and contractors working in the immediate area were transported to nearby hospitals, with decontamination completed beforehand.

The Webster fire department "isolated the tanks, monitored the area, and confirmed no chemicals were detected in the hotel or water park" officials said, adding that assistance on Wednesday morning was provided by various local agencies including multiple EMS and Fire units.

"The situation was quickly contained and will not affect the Lodge's operations today," the statement from the city of Webster on Wednesday said, adding that "an environmental company is working with Great Wolf Lodge and the contractor to clean the tanks safely."

The lodge was celebrating its grand opening on Wednesday, which is three weeks ahead of the previously scheduled opening day on 29 August, according to the resort's website.

In a statement sent to the Guardian, the Great Wolf Lodge said: "The health and safety of our guests and pack members is always our priority, and we greatly appreciate the quick actions of first responders from the city of Webster in response to an incident at an external building outside of the main indoor water park and resort caused by an external vendor. We've received the all-clear to open the resort and all water park attractions as planned from the Webster Fire Department."

The resort, per the website, encompasses 27 acres (11 hectares), 532 rooms and a 95,000 sq ft indoor water park, among other attractions, and is the second Great Wolf Lodge indoor waterpark resort in Texas and the company's 22nd in North America.