Facilities issues plague Harnwell

A series of pipe bursts have struck Harnwell College House, leaving residents without hot water and some without electricity.

The first incident occurred last Tuesday when a six-inch drainage pipe -- which takes the water from kitchens in the high-rise apartments -- on the first floor cracked.

The resulting flood caused minor damage to the lobby, and water was temporarily shut down on floors 1 to 7 in selected rooms while the crack was fixed.

On Thursday, another pipe burst in the same building, causing flooding on floor 5.

This time, the pipe was a plumbing riser, which runs vertically in the building and distributes water to rooms.

The burst directly affected College senior Jillian Kuhn, who lives in room 502.

On Thursday, Kuhn was in her apartment -- which already had no heat and no hot water -- when she heard crackling sounds coming from her surge-protector box. She called Facilities and Real Estate Services, and an electrician was sent to her apartment in 10 minutes.

But as a result of flooding in the fuse box, Kuhn was not able to stay in her apartment for 24 hours. She spent this time at a friend's home, although Facilities offered to accommodate her in another room in Harnwell.

Although Kuhn said that she "still like[s] living on campus," she added that a lot of "things have happened" to her in her four years living in college housing.

To repair the burst pipe, both water and electricity were shut down on various Harnwell floors on Thursday and Friday.

Residents of the college house, who were warned via e-mail of the incidents and possible utility shutdowns, were not as inconvenienced as they expected.

Wharton junior Usman Masood, who lives in room 401, was not in his room during the electricity shutdown, although he did notice a decrease in water pressure.

Although the pipes in the high rises continue to be a problem, there "is potential for this [sort of problem] everywhere," said Mike Coleman, executive director of operations for Facilities Services.

He added that the two incidents last week were pipe bursts of two different systems. These problems are not easily predictable and can be attributed to the outdated infrastructure of the high rises.

Last week's incidents followed a similar one that occurred in Harrison College House three weeks ago.

A year-and-a-half-old Harrison pipe burst because it was badly installed, Coleman said.

Part of the recurring problem of pipe bursts arises from exposure of the pipes to extreme cold. The contents of the pipes freeze, and the frozen section acts as a plug to the entire system. Eventually, the frozen section bursts and causes flooding in the surrounding area.

Despite efforts by Facilities Services to solve problems related to pipes bursting in student housing, it continues to frustrate residents.

"When you have leaks and floods, it is very discouraging, and it makes students a little despondent," Harrison College House Dean Frank Pellicone said.

Although Pellicone and Facilities officials meet weekly to discuss maintenance issues, leaks have been an ever-present problem. In fact, a leak has been present in the college house office for so long, an office worker put a planter on top of it, Pellicone said.

Pipe bursts - Nov. 3: Harnwell 5th floor floods - Nov. 1: Harnwell lobby damaged, water shut down on several floors

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