Steam leaking from pipe next to softball field The Xavierite
On Thursday, Oct. 24, SXU students and staff noticed smoke emanating from the ground in lot 4 by the softball field.
On the sidewalk parallel to the parking spot, more smoke was found. Both areas were blocked off with safety cones and yellow tape.
Lot 4 has continued to be blocked off throughout the course of the week. Barricades have been placed around the excavation site, as well as in the parking spots surrounding it. Students can drive around the site and park in the spots South of the baseball field.
The following Monday, Badger Daylighting Hydrovac Service Company began repairs. The company specializes in excavating and uncovering exposed pipes and underground facilities.
Students at the university should expect the parking lot to be fully operational by next week, as well as the temperatures of the resident halls to return to normal.
Using Hydrovac technology, the company extracts the surroundings of the underground utilities. “Traditionally, the uncovering of buried lines has been completed by hand digging and mechanical excavation which carries a high risk of injury, ruptured or damaged underground pipes,” the company stated.
Director of Facilities at SXU Peter Skach explained that the “smoke” that was seen from underground was steam. “What you saw that looked like smoke was actually steam coming from underground,” Skach explained.
He went on to explain that SXU has two large steam boilers that provide heat to two buildings. “The steam is delivered through underground pipes, and as the pipes age, they can develop leaks at stress points or thin areas of pipe material,” Skach stated.
The stress through the pipe material caused the steam to escape through the ground and onto the parking lot. This led to various effects throughout the dorms on campus.
Resident of McCarthy Hall Donovan Jackson, Junior, commented on the effects the pipe had on his dorm. “I have noticed McCarthy hallways have been drastically colder,” he explained.
Another resident of McCarthy Hall, Justin Alexander, Junior, shared the same thoughts. “The dorms have been colder, I don’t know why that is,” he commented.
Resident of Rubloff Hall Richard Hurley, Sophomore, commented on his own experiences. “I have noticed Rubloff hall to be quite warmer recently. I have to keep the window open at all times,” he recalled.
Resident Assistant (RA) John Street, Sophomore, commented on the situation at Pacelli Hall, saying “they’re about to switch over the boiler in Pacelli dorm.” The main function of the boiler is to heat water and provide heating.
“When a leak occurs, we identify the location of the leak by excavating in the area to expose the damaged pipe and complete a repair by welding the area of the damage depending on the severity,” Pete Skach said. Skach went on to say that Facilities are in “excavating mode right now.”Beverly Companies Landscaping and Removal Company arrived early Thursday morning to begin re-landscaping the affected area.
Representative of the company Seth Eller talked about the company’s involvement stating, “We specialize in parking lot enhancements and irrigation start-up and shut down projects.” .
For more information regarding facilities at SXU, contact auxiliaryservices@sxu.edu.