B717 IS DAMAGED DURING SVCING OF THE LAVATORY. FLT CREW OBSERVES THE DAMAGE AND ELECTS TO FLY THE ACFT TO THE NEXT DEST.

Narrative

COMPLETED EXTERIOR INSPECTION OF ACFT FOR FLT TO ZZZ1. WHILE CLBING THE STAIRS OF THE JETWAY; I HEARD AN UNUSUAL POPPING NOISE. NOTED THE LAVATORY SVC TRUCK UNDER THE L ENG AND THOUGHT THE DRIVER HAD PULLED AWAY WHILE CONNECTED. I APCHED THE BACK OF THE ACFT AND NOTED THE LARGE BLUE WASTE HOSE STILL ATTACHED TO THE ACFT BUT NOT THE TRUCK AND ONLY THE METAL COUPLER FOR THE FRESH WATER LINE CONNECTED TO THE ACFT. THIS SMALLER HOSE HAD SEPARATED AT THE ACFT. AFTER THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK REMOVED THE BLUE HOSE AND METAL COUPLER; I MADE A QUICK INSPECTION FOR DAMAGE AND NOTED NONE. SINCE I DETECTED NOTHING AMISS; I CONTINUED ON WITH MY DUTIES AND OPERATED THE FLT TO ZZZ1. DURING NEXT EXTERIOR INSPECTION I DECIDED TO LOOK AGAIN AT THE LAVATORY SVC PANEL. AT THIS TIME I DISCOVERED SOME SLIGHT DAMAGE AT THE PANEL AND BROUGHT THE MATTER TO THE CAPT'S ATTN. WE DETERMINED THAT SINCE THE DAMAGE APPEARED MINIMAL; WE COULD SAFELY OPERATE THE RETURN FLT AND BRING IT TO MAINT CTL'S ATTN. ONCE IN ZZZ; MAINT CTL INFORMED US THAT THE PANEL WAS PART OF THE AFT PRESSURE BULKHEAD. THE ACFT WOULD BE OTS FOR 2 DAYS FOR REPAIRS. MY EVALUATION OF THE DAMAGE WAS CLRLY IGNORANT OF THE ACFT STRUCTURE AND I'LL CERTAINLY NOT ATTEMPT SUCH JUDGEMENTS ON MY OWN IN THE FUTURE.