Public Library Loses Valued Collections Due To Water Damage Boston

By Author: Leo Nov
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Huge amounts of money can be lost by water damage. There are many objects such as books, documents, furniture and even structural foundations that can deteriorate by the mere contact of water. Water damage can be caused by various factors. In the case of water damage Boston which took place in August of 1998, a hundred-year-old pipe burst and flooded the entire basement of the Boston Public Library. Hundreds of books and documents were damaged after having been totally submerged in water. Most of the ruined collections were of the science and government genre. Old and rare LP record jackets were also reported to have been broken beyond repair. The damage was said to have reached the lecture hall, the research departments, the section where the 16-mm collections were kept and the city's sound archives room. The Boston Public Library reported a damage involving 2,000 reference books, 300,000 documents, and 60,000 maps.

Because of the water damage Boston incident, the library remained close for many days. Water pumps were able to keep the flood waters at a low level. However, days after the pipes burst, waters were still ...
... seen dripping into the basement of the library. In attempt to salvage damaged books and documents, several items were transferred to refrigerated trucks. The more rare and important artifacts and film reels were transported to freezing facilities. Freezing has been a known method of water damage restoration for a long time now so this was the first thing that the locals resorted to after the water damage Boston incident.

Water damage Boston was said to have been primarily caused by weakening groundwater levels. These levels are in turn causing the decay of the structural foundations of many antique buildings. More than 2,000 acres of the metropolitan part of Boston have been found to be suffering from this potential damage in foundation levels. Because of this environmental status of the Boston area, many historical structures, important landmarks and homes are being threatened with deterioration and eventual extinction. There have been a number of instances of water damage Boston which have lead to the loss of houses in the area. In the 1970's, there were homes in Chinatown and Fenway which were destroyed due to flooding and unexplained leaks. One of the more prominent victims of water damage Boston was the Trinity Church located in Copley Square.

The vulnerable condition of metropolitan Boston calls for greater maintenance and management of groundwater basins. Without such supervision, the recurrence of water damage Boston incidents in significant and ancient regions will be regrettably high. This is why water levels and groundwater basin are being strictly and regularly monitored by the most qualified engineers. Water levels are studied and read by appointed scientists as often as six times a year. The information gathered from these studies was published and is within reach by the public. Books and documents exposed to water damage are in great risk for mold growth and reproduction. Molds can have very destructive effects and may even become health hazards if concentrated in mold colonies. It is therefore very important to treat both the cause and effects of water damage. In the case of water damage Boston, the groundwater levels are being consistently monitored while the victims of such water damage are being given intensive restoration aid.
Leo Nov is an editorial staff member of RestorationSOS.com, a leading service provider for water damage cleanups. To learn more about basement flood and water restoration, visit RestorationSOS.com.