Pipe bursts; students waterless

A rupture in SJU’s campus water main left most student residences and the Warner Palaestra without running water on Friday, Feb. 25.

According to SJU Building and Facilities Manager James Habiger, the rupture occurred due to a cracked four-inch wide pipe located over 20 feet underground just outside the south second-floor entrance of the Palaestra. The pipe dates back to the early 1970s, and Habiger indicated that it likely burst due to age.

The lack of water temporarily prevented students from using standard living amenities like showers and sinks.

“It was frustrating because I was unable to shower and do some things in the apartment,” said Nick Gilman, a junior and a resident in the Flynntown community.

A member of the custodial staff alerted life safety about the leak just after 5 a.m. on Friday. Life safety in turn notified Habiger, who then reached out to an excavator. Physical Plant shut down water supplies to prepare for repairs. The main was patched and water was restored around 8 p.m. Friday night.

The rupture was found to be much deeper than anticipated according to an email from Physical Plant staff. This forced the staff to excavate near the campus’s high voltage loop, so power to the Palaestra was cut off. As a result, the Palaestra was completely shut down at 3 p.m., with no one being allowed into the building until the next day.

In response to the lack of water, SJU supplied Flynntown residents with access to water and restrooms at the McKeown Center.

“The school did a good job with the issue by bringing out [portable restrooms] and bottled water,” Gilman said.

The repair to the pipe is just a temporary fix, as Habiger said Physical Plant plans to replace the pipe and add an additional valve to isolate the Palaestra from lower campus after graduation in May. The incident lasted around 15 hours, and the loss of water did not dramatically change students’ days.

“Overall, I feel the situation was handled very well. I found the communication about the situation and its progression was timely and effective,” said Calvin Burg, a junior and a resident in the Flynntown community.

The shutdown affected more than just the student body. The SJU basketball MIAC playoff game scheduled for Friday night was forced to move to CSB due to the lack of power in the Palaestra.

Overall, most students were appreciative of the school’s communication on the issue and the prompt response.

“The water main break was definitely an inconvenience to my day, but I was still able to go about my day due to the assistance the staff provided,” Burg said.

Habiger attributed the solution of the issue to the dedication of those who worked to quickly identify and repair the leak.

“The Physical Plant staff crew works hard to keep the entire campus running with the Abbey’s help, and they do a great job,” Habiger said via email.

This is not the first time there has been a water problem on campus. In 2019, the water supply tested positive for E. coli, prompting the Physical Plant staff to flush the whole water system.

“With there being multiple water problems throughout my time at St. John’s, I hope the staff can solve problems proactively, so the issues don’t continue,” Gilman said.