Chlorine leak forces immediate closure of Salina water park day after season opening
Hazmat incident inside pump building leaves employees with minor respiratory irritation
SALINA, Kan. — A hazardous materials incident involving a chlorine leak forced the immediate closure of Salina's Kenwood Cove Aquatic Center on Wednesday, abruptly halting operations early in its 16th summer season.
Employees who discovered the chemical leak inside the facility's pump building suffered minor respiratory irritation, but no serious injuries were reported.
Salina Fire Chief Shane Pearson confirmed that local firefighters quickly secured the area and successfully resolved the leak, ensuring there was no broader health threat to guests or staff members.
City officials anticipate the facility will partially reopen Thursday morning for limited water-walking activities, pending the completion of mandatory environmental assessments and remediation procedures. All other scheduled programs and general public swimming, which normally runs from 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., remain temporarily canceled.
The Salina Parks and Recreation Department plans to resume full operations once all hazard protocols are cleared and the water is balanced.
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