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Danbury declares emergency after Pembroke School booster pump and hydropneumatic tank failure
Summary
After a failure of the Pembroke School hydropneumatic tank and booster pumps, the Danbury Board of Awards declared an emergency Aug. 27, waiving competitive bidding to allow immediate plumbing and electrical repairs; initial plumbing estimates discussed were roughly $50,000–$75,000.
The Danbury Board of Awards declared an emergency Aug. 27 to respond to a failure of the hydropneumatic tank and booster pump station serving Pembroke School.
Superintendent of Public Utilities David Day said crews identified a pump failure and associated problems that left the school and one resident affected by interrupted water service. Day told the board that the failure exposed an unsafe condition: the station's electrical switchgear is located in an area that can become wet, creating a safety concern that must be addressed with separate electrical engineering and relocation work.
Day and other staff described immediate, short‑term plumbing steps already taken to restore service and the need for additional short‑ and long‑term repairs. The board heard an initial plumbing estimate in the range of about $50,000 to $75,000 to replace pumps, order bladder tanks and perform plumbing upgrades; meeting participants stated they expect plumbing work to remain under $100,000, while electrical work could exceed that and will require further engineering proposals.
Given the safety implications and the need for rapid action, the board voted to add the matter to the agenda as an emergency item, declared the emergency, and waived formal competitive bidding and competitive pricing requirements to allow immediate contracting and engineering. Colby and department staff said two separate proposals will be sought: one covering water‑system repairs and one for electrical relocation and associated engineering. The board authorized staff to proceed and return cost and contract recommendations as they become available.
Next steps listed at the meeting included obtaining the proposals, performing required emergency repairs to restore and stabilize the water supply for the school, and separately engineering the relocation or protection of the switchgear to remove the electrical hazard. The board requested follow up reporting on repair scope and costs when available.
