The contractor overseeing construction of the new Duval County Courthouse  will handle costs of repairing water damage discovered after a sprinkler system  joint failed this month, a city official said Tuesday.

"This repair will not affect the opening of the courthouse," said Jim  Robinson, the city's acting public works director. He said the failure was  "unfortunate but not a major issue."

Carpeting, ceiling tiles and drywall were damaged in a 3,200-square-foot area  after a second-floor sprinkler pipe apparently failed following a pressure test,  he said.

Robinson, who talked about the leak to the City Council's Committee on  Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety, said it wasn't  clear yet how much drywall would have to be replaced by Turner Construction  Co.