A chemical spill turned a creek red in Riverside Gardens on Sunday afternoon, as nearby residents reported an intense chemical smell in the area.
As of Monday morning, local officials had not confirmed the specific chemicals, quantities or source of the spill. The affected waterway is an unnamed intermittent stream flowing through Riverside Gardens and into the Mill Creek cutoff to the south, which in turn empties to the Ohio River.
Bakelite Synthetics, a chemical plant handling formaldehyde, methanol, phenol and other hazardous chemicals in its operations, sits just north of the neighborhood — only a few hundred feet from homes along Wilmoth Avenue, where some residents spotted the discoloration.
Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Chief Jason Meiman described the spill as a caustic solution that is quickly diluting in the waterway over time. The spill’s exact origin and time of release, as well as the specific chemicals involved, are all still under investigation, he said Monday morning…