Boulder water okay after chemical leak

BOULDER, CO, May 3, 2011 -- A leak in a sodium hydroxide pipe at Boulder's water treatment plant is no longer considered dangerous and water supplies are not affected, according to a statement from the city.

The leak was discovered early this morning, stemming from two small cracks in a pipe connected to a sodium hydroxide storage tank. The breach was contained to the facility's chemical storage building which is separate from water treatment operations.

As a safety precaution, firefighters evacuated the building. It was reopened after crews stopped the spill with a temporary fix.

A city spokesperson said the crack will be more permanently fixed within the next 24 hours.

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