Water Main Broke at Harry S. Truman Elementary School

Police and school officials rushed to Harry S. Truman Elementary School recently after an old underground water main sprang a leak in front of the school on Gaskill Avenue.

Water gushed above ground for about three hours beginning at about 8:30 a.m. Sept. 1 near the driveway in front of the school, according to a police report and William Brackett, director of maintenance/buildings and grounds.

The leak was caused by a crack in the pipe, which dates back to the 1970s, Brackett said.

"They didn't know how to pack pipes back then," he said.

The pipe was not totally broken and was able to be repaired by Beck Plumbing and then re-buried. Heavy equipment and stones were brought in, he said. Overall, the repair went well, considering it happened on a weekend, Brackett said.

Because of the age of the pipes, Brackett said, "this will happen again, whether at Harry S. Truman or another school."

Brackett said he anticipated a "sizable" bill for the repair because the plumber had to be called in after-hours and bring in heavy equipment.