Water main break closes high school

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - Crews worked on a water main break that left damages to an Albuquerque charter high school Saturday.

Walls of water pushed through the asphalt, shot over a two story building and even broke windows.

A water main break near Copper and Washington in North East Albuquerque shut down the Digital Media Arts Collaborative Charter School for at least a week.

Saturday morning water was shooting up from deep underground, pushing through the asphalt and flinging dozens of rocks right at the school's windows.

It happened just after 10:30 a.m.

Crews took nearly three hours to get the 80 foot geyser under control, but by then the damage was already done.

"We have gravel onto our roof, so I'm sure that's going to be structurally damaged if not devastated," said Principal Glenna Voigt.

The charter school must pay for it's own facilities and has a very tight budget. The school is also full of expensive media equipment and irreplaceable student artwork.

Inside damages range from deep puddles to soaked ceilings and damaged computers.

Crews will be back on Monday assessing structural damages, but until then students and staff are not allowed inside the building.

Water was shut off to about 20 customers in the area through midnight Saturday. The water company says the pipe likely burst because it was so old.