SXU Faces Pipe Leaks at Softball Field –

Steam comes out of the pipe next to The Xavierite softball field

On Thursday, October 24th, SXU students and staff noticed smoke coming from the ground on Property 4 by the softball field.

More smoke was detected on the sidewalk parallel to the parking lot. Both areas were cordoned off with safety cones and yellow tape.

Property 4 remained closed throughout the week. Barricades were erected around the excavation site and in the parking lots surrounding it. Students can drive around the site and park in the parking lots south of the baseball field.

The following Monday, Badger Daylighting Hydrovac Service Company began repairs. The company specializes in the excavation and uncovering of exposed pipes and underground facilities.

University students can expect the parking lot to be fully operational starting next week and temperatures in the dormitories to return to normal.

The company uses hydrovac technology to vacuum the area surrounding underground utilities. “Traditionally, exposing buried utilities is done through manual digging and mechanical excavation, which poses a high risk of injury, cracking or damage to underground utilities,” the company said.

Peter Skach, director of facilities at SXU, explained that the “smoke” seen from underground was steam. “What you saw and what looked like smoke was actually steam coming from underground,” Skach explained.

He further explained 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, leaks can occur at stress points or thin areas of the pipe material,” Skach explained.

The strain on the pipe material caused the steam to escape through the ground and into the parking lot. This led to various impacts in the residence halls on campus.

McCarthy Hall resident Donovan Jackson, junior, commented on the impact the pipe had on his dorm. “I noticed that it was noticeably colder in the hallways of McCarthy,” he explained.

Another McCarthy Hall resident, Justin Alexander, junior, shared the same thoughts. “It was colder in the dorms, I don’t know why that is,” he commented.

Rubloff Hall resident Richard Hurley, a sophomore, commented on his own experience. “I noticed that the Rubloff Hall has been quite warmer recently. I always have to keep the window open,” he remembers.

Resident Assistant (RA) John Street, Sophomore, commented on the situation in Pacelli Hall, saying, “They are in the process of replacing the boiler in the Pacelli residence hall.” The boiler's primary function is to heat water and provide heat.

“When a leak occurs, we identify the location of the leak by excavating the area to expose the damaged pipe and perform a repair by welding the area of ​​damage depending on the severity,” said Pete Skach. Skach continued that the facilities are currently in “excavation mode.” The Beverly Companies Landscaping and Removal Company arrived early Thursday morning to begin resurfacing the affected area.

The company's representative, Seth Eller, spoke about the company's involvement and stated: “We specialize in parking lot improvements and irrigation startup and closure projects.”

For more information about the facilities at SXU, please visit [email protected].

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