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The Belle Isle Aquarium had a near-disaster.
Last week, two days before its 112th birthday, staff and volunteers at the Belle Isle Aquarium were involved in a clean-up and discovered a substantial flood throughout the Aquarium, the Belle Isle Conservancy website says.
Water entered the front koi pond door, came in through the walls on one side, and up the sewer drains in the old bathroom and boiler room, the website said.
"We are bringing in a flood recovery team to assist us in in lowering humidity levels, drying things out, venting, bleach-treating all affected areas, and cleaning the basement, where evidence of water levels reached 2 feet from the ground," the website explains.
With the looming, all-too-realistic possibility of being unable to open the Aquarium to the public until the recovery team completes their remediation, our amazing staff and team of dedicated, unstoppable volunteers have been working around the clock for three days scrubbing all the floors and bathrooms, hauling away items irreparably damaged by the standing water, and venting the smell issues resulting from the high moisture.
Thanks to these outstanding supporters, we are happy to announce that the Aquarium has been made show-ready and will be open to the public this weekend! This is one celebrated win amidst the devastation, but we still need your help!
To help cover cost of the professional flood recovery services, the aquarium is asking for donations. Click here to donate.
Designed by architect Albert Kahn, the aquarium opened on August 18, 190, and closed on April 3, 2005 because of budget issues. It reopened on Aug. 18, 2012, and is operated by volunteers.
We first saw this story in Metro Times.
The Aquarium is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
