Crystal Lake Public Library reopened to the public Saturday, Dec. 4 after a water main break forced its closure for nearly two weeks.
Water began filling the building’s sump pump well in late November. Eventually, water began seeping through the floor and wall in a mechanical room in the lower level of the building.
Contractors using sonar equipment located a break in a 37-year-old water pipe near the Paddock Street entrance. To make matters worse, the pipe, which is owned by the Library, ran beneath the ComEd transformer box located next to the building.
For that reason, the transformer box, concrete pad, bike rack, adjacent sidewalk and handicapped ramp had to be removed before any repair work could take place. Water and electricity was cut off to most of the building, and the Library was closed to the public at 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22.
Using heavy machinery, contractors excavated 12 feet below the surface to locate the break, eventually removing and replacing a 25-foot-long section of damaged piping. While repairing that pipe, contractors discovered another crack in a fire department connection line, a separate water pipe used during a fire emergency. A section of that pipe was also replaced.
Once all repairs were completed, a new handicapped ramp was constructed. The Library could not reopen without ADA-compliant access to the building. Many components of the Library's building and operations had to be brought back online including life-safety equipment, such as the elevator, sprinkler system and fire alarm alert system.
In the meantime, due dates for materials were extended by seven days so patrons wouldn’t encounter late-return notices.
With all repairs completed, the Library is open to the public and has resumed normal business hours.
