Ruptured pipe rains asbestos at K-State
10:24 p.m. Tuesday, January 23, 2007
It was too much pressure- the steam rushing through through one of the pipes at the K-State power plant. So the gasket blew out, and because the pipes were insulated with asbestos, that came flying out with it.
But the ruptured pipe, and the danger it posed, didn't come as a surprise to K-State staff. In fact, they'd been expecting it.
"This is just part of the infrastructure that's outdated and in need of repairs," explained Facilities Maintenance Director Ed Heptig.
Did you know?
Asbestos is actually a bundle of fibers that can be released into the air.
It's known to cause serious health risks when inhaled, like lung disease and cancer.
The material was banned for use in most products in 1989, but those restrictions were loosened two years later.
In fact, while the cleanup was going on in Manhattan, Kansas State University president, Jon Wefald was at the State Capitol. He had a previously scheduled visit to discuss the University's dire maintenance backlog with lawmakers.
"We are in a crisis. Period. Amen. Goodnight," Wefald told the Senate committee.
And Wefald didn't let the irony of that morning's on-campus crisis get past him.
"Just as an example, today one of our steam lines burst in our power plant which was built when? 1923," Wefald said.
Plant operators sealed off the boiler room, and they hope to get clean-up finished within the next couple of days. But right now they're only concerned with a temporary fix, because the temperatures are too low outside to shut off power to the rest of campus for even a few hours.
Even when the weather warms up, a temporary fix is all the University can afford, until funding comes through for a new power plant, funding, that, at this point, is only a pipe dream.
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