Newspaper Article

Engineer reports on library flood; Groundwater, drains are possible causes

Schoenberg, Shira

2007

Overview

Abnormally high levels of groundwater combined with potential problems in drains and pipes could have caused the flooding that destroyed the children's room of the Weare Public Library during last month's nor'easter, according to an engineering report. [Harry Wetherbee]'s report, which he gave Library Director Christine Hague last week, highlighted three possible reasons for the flooding. First, Wetherbee found that there may have been a buildup of groundwater below the basement slab, which could have seeped into the room. Ideally, he wrote, drains should have been placed lower in the ground to draw water down. Second, drains may have become clogged with silt. A system to allow the drain to be easily cleaned out may never have been installed. Third, the pipe that runs from the library to a catch basin may have been laid too flat and could not properly drain the groundwater. \"I think there's a nice groundswell of people who are concerned about this gem we have that we don't want to lose, and see the need for doing all we can to get the children's room up and running,\" Selectmen Chairwoman Heleen Kurk said.

• Publisher: Concord Monitor/Sunday Monitor
• Subject: Wetherbee, Harry