Members of the University Physical Plant Department work to fix the main water line that broke yesterday. (DM Photo | Cady Herring)
The Physical Plant Department closed the Oxford campus of The University of Mississippi Monday morning until noon due to an isolated water main break, which caused a complete loss of water pressure on campus.
The Physical Plant Department at Ole Miss continuously updated students through the Rebel Alert system to inform them if classes would be canceled throughout the day.
Some buildings were listed as places that were open for restroom use until the water pressure could be restored back to normal. In addition, housing made adjustments for restroom use by students who live on campus. Aramark and Barnes and Noble were open with limited food services.
The water was restored to campus buildings, opening offices at noon and resuming classes that started at 1 p.m. or later.
Even though water pressure was restored, the university is under a boil water alert issued by the Mississippi State Department of Health. In the alert report issued by the university, it advises that anyone who receives their water supply from the university should boil their water for one minute before it is consumed.
Emily Moore, freshman forensic chemistry major, said when she woke up yesterday morning, she was confused about the situation.
“After refreshing the Ole Miss website several times and reading all of my emails from Rebel Alert, I decided I would go back to sleep until noon, which I definitely wasn’t going to complain about,” Moore said.
Moore said every floor had a note from student housing posted on the bathroom door warning residents not to use the water.
“I had to brush my teeth using water from a water bottle because I obviously couldn’t use the sink water,” Moore said. “Also, I had to shower at a friend’s house off campus, which was very inconvenient.”
Moore said they were offering water to residents at the front desk to aid everyone in brushing their teeth.
Moore said regardless of the inconvenience of the break in the water main, she is happy with how the university provided the campus with enough information to minimize confusion.
