2008 Woodie Awards
Martin Faces Sewage Leaks; Water Shut Off
Brad Howard
Issue date: 2/10/06 Section: News
The men of Martin hall first floor found themselves in deep shit Monday night, and this time it wasn't the Administration knocking at the door. The building's main sewer line had backed up and raw sewage began leaking throughout the first floor, requiring urgent attention. After calling in an outside plumber, Hendrix Physical Plant thought they had the problem solved, but were proved wrong when the leak was back stronger the next night.
Junior and Martin Hall President Andrew Vogler is a resident of the first floor and experienced the leak first hand.
"Sewage water was flowing from all the bathrooms and into the hallways. It just kept coming," he said. "We had to make dams in front of our doors."
According to Vogler, the water was up to one or two inches deep the second night and was seeping again into residents' rooms.
"The problem is the 50 year old sewer line, and it runs underneath the Martin/Couch parking lot to the sewer main," said Lloyd Ryan, director of physical plant. "We searched for the problem between the building and the sidewalk, and didn't find it. So, we will have to continue toward the parking lot."
Until they could remedy the problem, all bathrooms on all floors in Martin Hall had to be shut down, and residents were not allowed to use the sinks in their rooms because nothing would drain.
"It's really inconvenient for students, and we hate that, but we have very little recourse," Ryan said. "If we kept the bathrooms open, the water would eventually back up throughout the dorm."
Ryan mentioned the bathrooms, laundry room, kitchen, and sinks in all the rooms, which would face drainage or back-up problems if the residents continued to use the plumbing.
Physical Plant worked with Director of Residence Life John Omolo to allow the Martin residents key card access to Hardin Hall until their plumbing is repaired.
"Comfort is our main concern," Omolo said at a meeting with Martin hall residents on Wednesday night. He told the men they should feel free to stay with friends in other residence halls until Martin was fully operational.
Junior and Martin Hall President Andrew Vogler is a resident of the first floor and experienced the leak first hand.
"Sewage water was flowing from all the bathrooms and into the hallways. It just kept coming," he said. "We had to make dams in front of our doors."
According to Vogler, the water was up to one or two inches deep the second night and was seeping again into residents' rooms.
"The problem is the 50 year old sewer line, and it runs underneath the Martin/Couch parking lot to the sewer main," said Lloyd Ryan, director of physical plant. "We searched for the problem between the building and the sidewalk, and didn't find it. So, we will have to continue toward the parking lot."
Until they could remedy the problem, all bathrooms on all floors in Martin Hall had to be shut down, and residents were not allowed to use the sinks in their rooms because nothing would drain.
"It's really inconvenient for students, and we hate that, but we have very little recourse," Ryan said. "If we kept the bathrooms open, the water would eventually back up throughout the dorm."
Ryan mentioned the bathrooms, laundry room, kitchen, and sinks in all the rooms, which would face drainage or back-up problems if the residents continued to use the plumbing.
Physical Plant worked with Director of Residence Life John Omolo to allow the Martin residents key card access to Hardin Hall until their plumbing is repaired.
"Comfort is our main concern," Omolo said at a meeting with Martin hall residents on Wednesday night. He told the men they should feel free to stay with friends in other residence halls until Martin was fully operational.