sealPurdue News
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February 24, 1998

Water main break repaired

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- A water main break at Purdue University today (Tuesday, 2/24) disrupted vehicle and pedestrian traffic in the Memorial Mall area, but did not curtail water service to nearby buildings.

The break in the 12-inch-diameter main, under the roadway just northwest of Stewart Center, was discovered about 7 a.m. by Purdue police who saw water bubbling up from the pavement. Waterworks manager Donald Morrison said the cast-iron water main that broke is at least 40 years old.

Physical Facilities crews used a backhoe to dig down to the broken pipe, and the excavation was pumped out. Workers put a stainless-steel clamp on the break about 3:30 p.m., which stopped the water flow.

Morrison said there was no danger of water contamination, since the water was flowing out of the broken main under high pressure. He said water pressure was affected somewhat in nearby buildings in the vicinity of Memorial Mall, but no buildings lost water service.

Permanent refilling and resurfacing of the excavation site are pending.

Source: Donald Morrison, (765) 494-4637
Writer: Greg Zawisza, 765) 494-2086; e-mail, greg_zawisza@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu

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