Classes were canceled at Animas High School on Wednesday because of a water main break on a line that runs from the Valle De Merced Apartments to the school building.
Durango Public Works Outreach Coordinator Laura Rieck said the break was the size of a silver dollar and was caused by aging water lines. She said the pipe that broke was installed in 2000, and the breach occurred just south of the apartment complex.
The public works department was first notified of the break at around 7 a.m. Wednesday.
This is the second time in the last two weeks the high school closed because of a water main issue that left students and staff without running water. Classes were canceled Aug. 22 and 23 because of a water main issue that was reportedly caused by nearby construction.
“The pipe on either side of this hole is really pitted. So they can’t just put a repair clamp around it. They have to actually cut out a section of pipe and replace it.” Rieck said.
Animas parents were notified at around 8 a.m. that classes were canceled and students who were already on campus were supervised by staff members until parents could arrange to pick them up.
The school reopened Thursday.
As of 2 p.m., a replacement pipe had been installed and public works crews were disinfecting the new pipe. Crews are still awaiting a bacteriological sample to ensure the water is clean before clearing the school to reopen.
It’s unclear whether the sample will be evaluated in time for the school to reopen Thursday.
“That bacteriological sample goes to La Plata Health water lab and gets tested over the next day. They’ll call them (Animas High School) tomorrow to let them know the results.” Rieck said.
Rieck said it was actually a planned shut-off by the city because of a broken water valve near the roundabout on Goeglein Gulch Road and was not related to construction.
Animas Dean of Enrollment Libby Cowles said the city assured the school that its water should be back on by Thursday morning and that it was “communicated to families.”
“We will have school on Monday, Sept. 16 rather than a Professional Development Day for staff, as originally planned, so that we are not using up our days budgeted into the school calendar in case of school closures due to winter storms,” she said.
tbrown@durangoherald.com
