Greenwood library reopens after sewer leak

Repairs and interior renovations are complete at the Greenwood Public Library following a sewer pipe leak under the building.

The library, owned and operated by Sussex County, was closed the day before Thanksgiving and only recently reopened.

Hans Medlarz, Sussex County engineer, said leaking sewage caused damage to just about everything on the floor, including all of the carpet and some shelving, and electrical and data systems. No books were damaged. “Anything that had contact with the floor was pulled out and replaced,” he said.

Medlarz said county officials are working with its insurance carrier and do not have a cost estimate for the work, which will be covered by insurance.

Once the leak was discovered, a crew capped the sewer line and installed a temporary above-ground line on the east side of the property along the railroad tracks to keep the town's system operating. Medlarz said that system was in operation until two weeks ago when a project was completed to install a new pipe around the building.

Repaving, the last phase of the project, was completed the last week of February.

Medlarz said the cause of the sewer pipe break was probably a repair project not properly done. “I don't know who did the repair,” he said. “I still have a number of questions, but the bottom line is the library is now open.”

Medlarz said the county contracted the work because in the near future, the county will take over the Greenwood sewer system. It will be part of a multimillion dollar project in western Sussex County to pump sewage from Greenwood and Bridgeville to be treated at the Seaford wastewater treatment plant.

The 10,400-square-foot library opened its doors in June 2014. The $3.2 million cost was shared by the state and county with a $150,000 pledge from the Friends of the Greenwood Library.

The county also operates libraries in Milton and Bethany Beach, South Coastal, as well as the bookmobile.