Facilities Management opened a hole in the ground in pursuit of a water leak in front of the Rec Center.

A flange, which attaches two pipes together, was leaking under the sidewalk in front of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. After finding the location of the leak, Facilities Management set to the task of repairing it. Kristian Allen, director of Facilities Management, headed the project.

“Once we found it, we cut the water off, dug down, fixed it and now we’re putting it back together,” he said.

Allen said leaks are typical and often not avoidable.

“The flange actually split from ground movement. It happens often enough,” he said. “Being clay soil in this area, it moves around and shifts. With that much stress on a pipe that big, it’s going to crack somewhere.”

The repair began on April 22. Allen said the project is winding down and will be complete by next week.

“The concrete’s been poured back, the light pole will go up Monday, and the flower bed will be fixed and addressed next week as well,” Allen said.