Trending
A water main break Monday morning has forced the Altoona Area Public Library to close its doors after the building's lower levels were flooded, a news release stated.
A wall of green, contractor vans and trucks lined the west side of the library Monday afternoon as crews worked to vacuum the water from the children's section.
About 8 a.m., a 12-inch water main burst while a Farfield Mechanical subcontractor excavated a trench for new piping to feed the Altoona Area Public Library's heating, ventilation and air conditioning system as part of the Altoona Area High School Building and Renovation Project, according to information provided by the Altoona Area School District and Altoona Fire Department.
"When we got there, around 8:30 a.m., there was water pushing out of the library's (utility) vault doors," Altoona Fire Chief Tim Hileman said. "As the (water authority) worked to seal the broken pipe, water filled a tunnel leading to the library from an old heating power plant. We're talking millions of gallons."
Large enough for a person to walk comfortably through, the tunnel originally facilitated piping and service lines for the library's heating system, Hileman said.
In addition to the library's lowest levels filling with water, the first floor, which houses the children's section, flooded with up to 3 inches of water, completely filling the approximately 4-feet deep amphitheater-style feature in the section, Hileman explained.
"Our problem was we had pumps to pump the water out, but there was only so much we could do until the break was sealed around 11 a.m.," he said. "All in all, though, I think it was a good team effort between the fire department and the water authority."
While damages could be costly, Hileman said crews were able to respond before water levels reached most of the library's books.
Flooding knocked out the building's power supply, but plans are underway to restore power and complete the cleanup efforts, an AASD release said.
Until a re-opening is scheduled, the library's executive director, Jennifer Knisley, encouraged patrons to use the institution's online resources, www.altoonalibrary.org.
Mirror Staff Writer Ike Fredregill is at 814-946-7458.