Utilities Operations

Water Works

Water Works is responsible for two separate areas.

1. Potable water production and distribution provides the drinking and daily use water consumed on campus. It originates from Purdue’s own well field which pumps water treated per IDEM specifications to the water tower and distribution system. This is turn services the buildings on campus for drinking, bathing, lavatories, cooking, and some once through cooling. The water is treated and constantly sampled and tested to ensure good quality drinking water.
2. Waste water consists of all the sanitary and storm sewer systems on campus that drain sewage from campus buildings and storm water from campus rain runoff.

The sanitary sewer goes to the West Lafayette Sewage Treatment Plant located off U.S. 231 east of campus. Purdue meters the water sent to W.L. and pays a treatment like any other W.L. customer. Storm water runoff goes to a pond south of campus where it is eventually released into the Wabash river.

See also the annual water quality Consumer Confidence Report.

Utilities Distribution

The Utilities Distribution group is responsible for the steam, chilled water, and compressed air distributions systems that service each building on campus. This system provides heat, cooling, and compressed air for building controls. These products are produced at Wade Power Plant and are mostly distributed through a series of utility tunnels that run throughout campus.

Utilities Metering

The Utilities Metering group is responsible for metering utilities supplied by Wade Power Plant and for water supplied by Purdue Water Works. They install new meters and maintain existing meters by repairing and recalibrating them. They also answer alarms and maintain connectivity to InStep, Purdue's energy management system software.

High Voltage

The High Voltage distribution system provides electricity for campus through a system of substations and high voltage cabling that uses the utility tunnel system, direct bury, and some over head lines for transmission. The system uses 2400 kv and 12470 kv to service each building on campus that has its own transformers that step it down to voltages required for each building. Purdue’s power originates from generation at Wade Power Plant, and it is also bought from Duke energy, our local public electric utility.