Broken pipe at Washington soaks library
Water in the library was the school’s biggest concern after a pipe broke Thursday night, but the staff managed to minimize the damage. (Courtesy photo)
SANDPOINT — Water damage from a burst pipe at Washington Elementary last week could have been much worse if not for the school staff’s speedy action.
School officials say he trouble began after many of the employees had left for the day Thursday night. Head custodian Susan Lambert was preparing the gym for a later event around 7 p.m. when she heard a sound similar to that of a sink running. Moving upstairs, she found a broken pipe spewing water. Further investigation revealed water seeping to the ground level, particularly into the school library. Based on the volume of the spilled water, Lambert estimates the the damage must have occurred at 6 p.m., an hour prior to her discovery.
“We’re lucky that this didn’t occur over the over the weekend when no one would have been around to catch the damage in time,” Lambert said. “That could have done some real damage.”
Lambert called Lake Pend Oreille School District facilities director Matt Deil with the problem. Deil, who had been training school staff on emergency procedures, arrived ready to tackle the problem with a complete crew within 15 minutes.
“Everyone arrived at the school equipped to handle the issue so quickly,” principal Sandy Maras said. “It was really impressive.”
After shutting off the water, the crew worked for three hours mopping water and repairing the immediate damage. Lambert stayed until 11 p.m. rearranging items and ensuring school property was out of harm’s way.
Maras said the library was the school’s biggest concern. Water leakage hit that room the hardest, provoking concerns about the safety of the books. The staff’s quick response, however, significantly mitigated the potential damage.
“After going through the books, we only collected about two cardboard boxes-worth of material that was too water-damaged to be used anymore,” Washington Elementary librarian Nancy Wehrle said.
Over the next few days, the school addressed other reparative and safety issues that resulted from the burst pipe. They dried carpets, cleaned floors and moved equipment back into their original positions. Maras said she was highly impressed by the dedication and cohesion school employees demonstrated.
“Other teachers showed up to help solve the problem, and everyone really banded together and got the job done,” she said. “It was great to see everyone connect up and work as a team.”