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Flood calamity at Liverpool University laboratory



FIREFIGHTERS were this morning pumping out around 500,000 litres of water from the basement of a flooded Liverpool University building.

Crews were called to the Oliver Lodge laboratory at around 3.50pm yesterday.

United Utilities workers were also called to the physics lab near Abercromby Square – although the cause of the flooding today remained unconfirmed.

The fire service initially thought the flood may have been caused by ruptured water storage tanks in the building or a burst water main.

It was later confirmed as a burst pipe owned by the university.

A Merseyside Fire Service spokesman said: “We have approximately 500,000 litres of water that have flooded the basement.

“Within a couple of hours of pumping it was clear to the crews that a more significant pumping capacity was required.”

He said no fire service personnel was allowed in the basement until the water was pumped out.

No one from the university was available for comment this morning

But it is understood the basement is used to store equipment and contained electrical circuit breakers.

Six fire engines remained at the scene throughout most of the night – including a specialist high-volume pump from West Kirby used when river banks are expected to burst.

A United Utilities spokesman said: “We attended last night to shut the water supplies off.

“Pumping out the water took until 4.30am but the burst was located at around 4.45am.

“It is a private leak and on the university side of the network rather than being a United Utilities issue.”

A Liverpool University spokeswoman said today: “A pipe became dislodged in the Oliver Lodge plant room.

“The fire service pumped approximately 2-3ft of water out of the building. The university is currently assessing the damage.”

THE ECHO

Hmmm, costly i`m sure, using the fire service? Charge em i say! Fools

Ouch! That gönna cost mucho

I know this building, if only 3 feet deep they might be quite lucky, most of the equipment is on benches that are probably just above that.