Students had to temporarily vacate a Toronto, Ontario, high school on April 4 after school officials detected a chlorine leak beneath the school's swimming pool. School officials contacted hazardous materials crews to investigate the cause of the leak. The crews discovered that a power outage had caused a valve to break down, which led to the leak.
Though school officials initially worried a nearby acid tank would react dangerously with the chlorine, hazmat crews were able to control the situation. Students returned to their classes shortly after noon, when the fire department concluded the grounds were safe.
Luckily, nobody was injured following the Toronto chemical leak, but dozens of people in British Columbia weren't so fortunate when a swimming pool sprung a similar chlorine leak in February. A failed vacuum regulator allowed chlorine to flow freely into the Williams Lake municipal pool, sending 70 people to the hospital, including 45 children. According to the CBC, the pool reopened its doors to the public in March, which was sooner than officials expected.
"We've been waiting and waiting and waiting, and knowing it's going to be open right away, sooner than we expected, I suppose, is great news. We love that," Dale Taylor, president of a local children's swimming club, told the CBC.
