A water main break flooded Science Buildings II and IV and briefly interrupted water flow to the Hillside Community last night around 5 p.m., according to Binghamton University spokeswoman Gail Glover.
“My understanding is that there is a 12-inch water main break,” Glover said around 7 p.m. “The plumbers are trying to get above and below the break to fix the problem.”
As of press time, students living on campus have been advised to conserve water use since the break occurred.
“Water can still be used for sanitation purposes,” Glover explained. “But we recommend to try and refrain from showering right now as much as possible.”
Julie Munn was taking pictures nearby when the flooding started (full disclosure: Julie Munn is Pipe Dream’s photo editor).
“There was just a very loud gurgling noise,” Munn, a senior psychology and graphic design major, said. “Then I walked over and there were just gallons of muddy water streaming up and out of the ground.”
According to Glover the water break took place between the pump house and the tank, where the Science Buildings are located.
Water from the break could be seen flooding down two paths: one toward the Science Buildings and down the stairs leading away from the Science Library toward the West Gym, and the other through the construction point between the Science Library and the Fine Arts Building toward Parking Lot C.
Plumbers were still trying to evaluate the extent of the break as of 9 p.m. last night, Glover said.
“The Physical Facilities people are working as fast as they can to fix the problem,” she said, clarifying that the break had nothing to do with last week’s water ban.
Glover said Physical Facilities had already been working to clean the flooded buildings, which included the floor of the Anderson Center, at 9 p.m..
According to Glover, as of the same time last night Physical Facilities had expected to be able to restore water pressure to all of campus sometime during the night.
Glover said she didn’t expect the flood to interfere with today’s classes.