Airport loses water for hour by mistake

The Salt Lake City International Airport was without water for about an hour Tuesday afternoon after city employees inadvertently shut off a water valve.

Sometime before noon, a contractor working near the airport accidently struck one of two 12-inch water pipes that feed the airport. City workers quickly found a valve to the line but mistakenly shut off both 12-inch main pipes that service the airport instead of only shutting off the broken pipe.

The mistake left the airport without water for about an hour, public utilities director LeRoy Hooton Jr. said.

Once city employees realized the mistake they found another valve and shut off water only to the broken pipe while allowing water to flow through the other 12-inch main pipe.

Department of Airports spokeswoman Barbara Gann said no flights were delayed but the airport was without air conditioning when the water was shut down.