By Mark Nolte
An underground water valve struck by construction equipment sent a 100-foot geyser into the sky Monday between the partially completed Student Athlete Center and the Indoor Practice Field.
Construction workers digging a tunnel between the Athlete Center and Practice Field accidentally hit the water valve at 11:30 a.m.
Provo City officials brought the geyser, which sent water cascading down 150 East in front of the Richards Building and formed several large puddles, under control within 20 minutes. No one was injured.
'It doesn''t happen every day, but it is part of construction; it''s just an accident,' said Richard Brimhall, assistant director of Provo Water Resources.
Though BYU and Provo City officials do not know the amount of water lost, the water pipe break caused city officials to close a main water line in order to isolate and repair the broken water valve.
Businesses and residents located between 150 East and Canyon Road were without water between 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Brent Harker, BYU Communications spokesman, said buildings on campus were not affected by the pipe break and geyser because the pipes that feed water into BYU are on the east side of campus.
Brimhall also said building materials located at the current construction sites were not damaged or in need of replacement.
The geyser''s width and height drew attention from students walking to class and driving near the west end of campus.
Mary Case, 21, a junior from Phoenix, first saw the geyser as she was driving south on University Avenue. She quickly called her friends and told them to meet her at the temporary water tower.
Case said about 30 students had gathered near the geyser to take pictures.
Because water pipe ruptures are common occurrences during construction, the city is well prepared to deal with them, Brimhall said, although Monday''s geyser was particularly large.
'It''s about as good of one as I''ve seen,' Brimhall said.