On October 29 at 8:12 a.m., the Stevens community was notified by the Rave Alert mass notification system, and later by the Office of the Registrar, of a water main break in Hoboken that had caused service disruption on lower campus, affecting all buildings south of the Schaefer Center. As a result, all daytime classes that began at 10 a.m. or later were moved online for the day, and the restroom facilities in all affected buildings and dorms were deemed non-functional until further notice. By 10:38 a.m. the water pressure was returned to normal. On-campus evening classes resumed at 6:30 p.m., and facilities were restored in all affected buildings.
Over the past few years, Stevens has frequently experienced issues with water main breaks on both the upper and lower sections of campus. In one February 2023 incident, Stevens urged all students who were able to leave Hoboken to do so as soon as possible due to a prolonged water main break affecting campus.
Water mains are large underground pipes that supply water to a region and are typically buried under streets to protect them from damage. They are connected to smaller distribution lines and maintain pressure to provide a continuous supply of water. Water main breaks often occur in areas with older infrastructure and occur when water pressure in pipes becomes too strong due to various reasons, causing a rupture or leakage that leads to water loss and low water pressure. Responsibility for maintaining the water mains lies with the city of Hoboken rather than with Stevens. Within Hoboken’s Drinking Water Infrastructure System alone, there are over 41 miles of water main pipes, many over 100 years old. In 2018, the city launched a Water Main Replacement Program as a proactive project to replace thousands of feet of water main and has installed over 13,000 linear feet of pipes so far.
First-year students in lower campus residences River Terrace and Davis found last week’s situation particularly challenging, as the break affected their facilities for around half the day, leaving them unable to use the bathrooms or showers. Students in other on-campus dorms and dining facilities were unaffected by the water shortage, but still spent the day attending virtual classes. Meanwhile, off-campus students continued with virtual classes from home, largely removed from the minor chaos on campus.
Water main breaks are often unpredictable and beyond the control of Stevens, necessitating close collaboration with the city and its efforts to restore the pipes. In response, the university keeps the community informed by sending updates via email, including announcements about virtual classes to minimize disruptions during repairs. To further support students, Stevens will provide resources like water bottles and portable restroom facilities in public areas when needed to help with hygiene needs. While these efforts cannot fully eliminate the challenges posed by water main breaks, Stevens works diligently to ensure the continuity of academic life and the wellbeing of its students.
