No definitive cause for burst sprinkler

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REGION 16 — Although officials don’t know why a sprinkler head burst in the pump house at Woodland Regional High School early this month, they are adamant that something has to be done to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

A sprinkler head burst in the pump house at the school Jan. 6. The pump house flooded and the drive that activates the main water pump that feeds water to the school burned out leaving the school without water. The school was closed for two days while repairs were made. All other schools in Region 16, which oversees schools in Beacon Falls and Prospect, were open as normal.

At last week’s Board of Education meeting, Superintendent of Schools Michael Yamin said the pin that holds the sprinkler head in place popped, though officials don’t know why. He said the cause of broken sprinkler head was narrowed down to three reasons.

The first reason is the sprinkler could have frozen. Yamin said there is a heater in the attic of the pump house that was put in when the school was built 15 years ago. However, he said, it was never connected because it was the wrong heater. A proper heater has been installed, he said.

Yamin said the pin also might have popped because there was air in the pipes or the sprinkler head was defective. He said when officials looked at the sprinkler head there wasn’t any erosion and there didn’t appear to be a problem.

No matter the cause, board members expressed frustrations with ongoing issues at the pump house that have caused water problems at the school. The pipes in the school have had their share of problems, as well. Last February, a sprinkler burst inside the school and forced the school to close for a day.

Yamin said a thorough investigation of the pump house and the sprinkler heads at the school will be done. He said a report will be given to the board on what the investigation uncovers.