Pipeline rupture causes water cut in dormitory and restaurant at California Institute of Technology-Mustang News

2021-12-06 16:20:20 By : Ms. Eva X

Due to an emergency water cut, students in six dorms at California Institute of Technology had no water on Saturday.

The power outage caused water outages in the yak?it?ut?u, Sierra Madre, Yosemite, Tenaya, Muir and Trinity dormitories. Due to the lack of water, Vista Grande catering facilities also closed the restrooms, but kept the catering services open.

Suzanne LaCaro, assistant director of facility operations and sustainability, said the university shut down its water pipes in response to two broken pipelines. The staff is still working hard to pinpoint the leak.

Around 8:15 in the morning, California Institute of Technology responded to the water problem behind the Nanshan student dormitory. At 9:30 in the morning, water gushed from the stairs leading to the dormitory. In addition, the entire back of the dormitory was flooded.

In the afternoon, Trinity and Muir still had no water. The university dormitory provides portable bathrooms nearby for students to use.

The students had to go to other dormitories to fetch water. The showers, bathrooms and water of the University League (65 buildings), Mott Stadium (42 buildings) and the Recreation Center (43 buildings) are also available for students.

Bottled water was distributed to the affected dormitory hall. The fire alarm was still operating, but the university dormitory activated an hourly fire walk as a preventive measure when the fire sprinkler system was shut down.

The university stated that it does not know how long the repair will take. Around 2 pm, the water in the Tenaya Hall returned. Since then, University Housing has issued an email with plans to help students still affected by the power outage.

Student Development Coordinator Johnny Moreno informed Tenaya residents, “The bike racks behind Tenaya will be moved for water-related work.” He said that he suggested that if students currently have bicycles stored there, move them to the Temporary bicycle racks across the street from Tenaya and various other surrounding Nanshan Red Bricks.

The University Housing Department tells students that if they have health and safety concerns, please contact the Resident Counselor, Student Development Coordinator, or any Housing Department staff member. 

University Housing said it will send more information to students as it becomes available.

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