ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
It could take as long as a week to reopen the library at Harris Stowe State University after a water main break on Wednesday afternoon caused flooding in about one third of the library. Carpet and computers stored on the floor got soaked, but books remained dry.
"The school is real lucky in terms of what happened. It could have been a lot worse," said the university's physical plant director Paul Kennon. He said restoration workers spent allnight pumping out the water and setting up fans and dehumidifiers. They will also spray a fungicide to prevent mold growth. University spokesperson Courtney McCall said said staff was still assessing the damage to computer equipment. It is expected insurance will cover the cost of repairs.
At one point Wednesday water from the gushing main stretched from the Harris Stowe library to SLU's Chaifetz Arena and Highway 40. A superintendent for the St. Louis City Water Division's Water Distribution system said Thursday it would be hard to determine what caused the aging pipe to break. "The expansions, contractions, ground movement it could be quite a bit of things," he explained.
One city crew worked through the night pumping out the water from the campus green. A second crew spent Thursday digging up the damaged pipe and installing a new one. Work to reinstall a fire hydrant and grass watering pipes should be completed on Monday.
"The school is real lucky in terms of what happened. It could have been a lot worse," said the university's physical plant director Paul Kennon. He said restoration workers spent allnight pumping out the water and setting up fans and dehumidifiers. They will also spray a fungicide to prevent mold growth. University spokesperson Courtney McCall said said staff was still assessing the damage to computer equipment. It is expected insurance will cover the cost of repairs.
At one point Wednesday water from the gushing main stretched from the Harris Stowe library to SLU's Chaifetz Arena and Highway 40. A superintendent for the St. Louis City Water Division's Water Distribution system said Thursday it would be hard to determine what caused the aging pipe to break. "The expansions, contractions, ground movement it could be quite a bit of things," he explained.
One city crew worked through the night pumping out the water from the campus green. A second crew spent Thursday digging up the damaged pipe and installing a new one. Work to reinstall a fire hydrant and grass watering pipes should be completed on Monday.
