State DNR headquarters shut down for water damage cleanup

Update at 2 p.m.: The Natural Resources Building closed at 1 p.m. with all employees instructed to leave, so cleanup and repair work can continue in water-damaged areas.

Six floors had flooding from the building's heating and cooling system when a pipe burst Monday night.

The liquid that leaked, while diluted with water, could cause irritation to skin, eyes and the respiratory system, so any employees who came in contact with the liquid should wash their skin, clothes and footwear if in contact with the liquid.

Holly Lamers of the DNR said a return to normal operations is expected on Wednesday.

A water pipe that burst Monday night caused damage to six floors of the state's GEF II building, the headquarters of the Department of Natural Resources.

The flooding was along the west side of the building at 101 S. Webster St., according to Stephanie Marquis, spokeswoman for the Department of Administration, which is in charge of state buildings.

Bill Cosh, spokesman for the DNR, told Madison.com the pipe that broke was in the building's heating system.

"No one was hurt," Cosh said, "But there's water damage on six different floors."

The first, second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh floors and a small portion of the ground floor were damaged, but the fourth and eighth floors were not affected.

"We have plumbers and cleanup crews on site to repair the damage and clean the areas," Marquis said.

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State DNR headquarters shut down for water damage cleanup