WATER PIPE LEAK LEAVES SOME STORES WATERLESS

Several businesses in downtown Cape Girardeau were without water for more than three hours Friday when a "fire line" developed a leak in the 100 block of N. Main.

Union Electric Co. water department workers were called to the site about 3:30 Friday, when water was observed shooting up from the street.

Portions of Main, Spanish and Water streets were closed to traffic until the leak could be detected and repaired.

After locating the leak, workers made the necessary repairs.

UE spokesman Bob Talley said water service was restored about 7 p.m.

"It was not a main line," said Talley. "It was a four-inch, cast iron, branch line, which goes into a building. We call them fire lines."

Workers found the leak about 5:30, said Talley.

"It was cracked all the way around the line," he said.