For two weeks, Middlesex Community College's Talbot Building in Lowell, Massachusetts, has been drying out.

A first floor pipe burst during an HVAC replacement project on Dec. 14, sending an estimated million gallons of scalding water into the basement dental clinic over 10 hours. NECN has learned when the drywall was ripped away, pre-existing black mold was found behind the walls and was also uncovered on the floor.

The subcontractor called in, A Touch Above Flood Restoration, says instead of waiting for the basement to dry out completely so no new mold forms, this weekend the main contractor brought in its own two workers and ripped up floors.

"The floor was soaking wet, contaminated with mold, and they did not tell us to shut off our fans or our desiccant blowing mold all around through the building," A Touch Above's project manager Mike Lynch said.

Lynch says the air quality is compromised in the building and he's worried about liability around A Touch Above's equipment that is stuck inside the basement, but his main concern is when students, staff and dental patients return to the clinic.

"Just the health for other people that are going to go in there. I don't want my work to be liable for anything that could potentially happen down the line," Lynch said.

A spokesman for the college says he's been assured after the flooding that "the rest of the building is ok" that "air samples" are being done on floors one through five.

When told about the workers ripping up the floor this past weekend, he said "that's news to me" and that he would look into that with the building supervisors.

NECN is looking forward to hearing the college's findings.

This is a Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, or DCAMM, project certified through the state.

Dental hygiene students do not return from winter break until Jan. 20.