A water main break along Pleasant Valley Boulevard announced itself in spectacular fashion about 9 p.m. Sunday, sending a geyser about 40 feet in the air in front of the DeGol Organization headquarters building, then drawing fire trucks and police, who closed off northbound traffic.

It was actually a “routine” break, according to the Altoona Water Authority’s Water Operations Director Mike Bianconi.

It looked spectacular because it was caused by a hole — the size of a 50-cent piece — in the top of the pipe and because the pipe was located in a grassy area rather than under a street, allowing the water to work its way directly to the surface and into the air, Bianconi said.

A crew was able to isolate the break by shutting off nearby valves, before making the repair.