School officials: Water leaks at Bemidji High School aren't cause for mold concern

[Guest guest]

October 04, 2002

School officials: Water leaks aren't cause for mold concern

By: Sherri s, Staff Writer

A leak from a staff bathroom at Bemidji High School led to the removal sheet

rock and insulation along a hallway to a storage room on the first floor

this week. The repairs are proactive measures to prevent mold growth,

according to district safety manager Steve Jewett.

" Our goal is to provide a safe environment for the students, staff and

public, " Jewett said. " That's our main priority. "

The leak came from a loose seal on a wax ring of the toilet mounting, which

was discovered Monday. A 16-foot stretch of wall, about a foot high, was

torn out along the hallway, as well as wall in the bathroom and the records

storage room.

" Some of that wall, we probably wouldn't have needed to pull it, but it's

better safe than sorry, " Jewett said.

Early next week, AirTech Environmental, Inc. of St. will test the area

and the air. If there are any indications of problems from those tests,

further follow-up tests will be done at a later date.

" We want the public to know that this is a safe facility and we're doing

what we can to keep it safe, " High School Principal Dick said.

In July, a leak in the ceiling of the Lumberjack Room on first floor caused

mold growth in that room and in a storage room on second floor. This mold

was cleaned up, and all damp sheet rock was removed and replaced.

That mold, however, did not affect the air quality of the high school

building. Tests done by AirTech during the July 22 repair revealed no

elevated rate of airborne contaminants. The air inside the building was

cleaner than the outside air.

District Business Manager Leinen said the mold was found early enough,

preventing it from becoming airborne.

Further tests were done on the Lumberjack Room and random rooms throughout

the building last month, and early results indicate no cause for concern.

Leinen said the school district is discussing the water leaks with the high

school building's general contractor.

" With a building of 400,000 square feet, we have an awful lot of water

running through, " Leinen said, pointing out the pool, sprinkler system,

lavatories, boiler system and science labs. " When you have that much water

running through, you have the potential for more risk. "

However, the district is trying to determine if there is a larger problem

than a few isolated leaks and roughly 10 other pipe breaks.

Including one in January, when a pipe in a second floor girls restroom

broke. Water flowed out the door, across the running track and down the wall

to the floor of the gym.

Leinen said the district expects to see some failures with the large number

of fixtures in the building.

" Are we starting to see too many failures? I don't know yet, " he said.

srichards@...

©The Pioneer 2002