Two hurt in water plant blast
July 10, 2002
BY ANDREW HERRMANN STAFF REPORTER
One man was hospitalized this morning after a construction-related explosion at the Jardine Water Purification Plant near Navy Pier. The operations of the plant, which provides water to millions of people on the city’s North Side, were not compromised, city officials said.
An underground propane tank exploded as workers were using a torch in a construction project at the plant, said Fire Chief Dennis Gault. One man, identified as an employee of Kedmont Waterproofing of Chicago, was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital with burns. He is listed in fair condition, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Another worker was slightly injured but was treated at the plant and declined to go to the hospital, said Gault.
Several windows were broken from the explosion, which occurred between the administration building and one of the filtration plants, said Water Department spokesman Tom LaPorte. The water supply remained safe, said LaPorte.
The explosion startled tourists and neighbors and shattered windows at the plant.
“I thought a boat had exploded,’’ said Ray Nichols, 58, of Ogden Dunes, Ind. Nichols and his wife Mary Ellen were aboard their power boat in Lake Michigan about 9:15 a.m. when they heard the explosion. He saw two puffs of smoke and Chicago Police Department marine units racing toward the plant.
Thomas Woods, 69, of Streeterville, was riding his bike near Navy Pier when he heard “a big boom.’’
“I felt the vibration,’’ said Woods, adding he saw construction material fly into the air.
Some 60 firefighters and 20 pieces of equipment were brought to the plant. Navy Pier operations were not effected.
The Jardine Plant chemically treats and filters more than a million gallons of water per minute. Opened in late 1964, the plant furnishes water to more than 2.8 million people in the area of Chicago north of Pershing Road and some adjacent suburban communities. Two huge tunnel systems carry water from the plant to seven pumping stations in the Central and North water districts.
The explosion occurred about 9:15 a.m. when something ignited a propane tank or a container of primer used to seal concrete in an above-ground construction area outside the administrative offices of the plant, 1000 E. Ohio St., officials said.Officials previously attributed the blast to a propane tank in a below-ground construction area but subsequently revised their information and said they were not sure if the tank or the sealant was to blame.