No Hot Water or Heat at U. Wisconsin at Whitewater After a Boiler Explosion

For almost a week, there has been no heat and little hot water at the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, and there may not be for a few more days, following a boiler explosion on campus.

During routine maintenance, a backup boiler blew up after gas built up and ignited, said Sara Kuhl, a spokeswoman for the university. One was person was injured, but not seriously. The explosion damaged both the backup boiler and the main boiler, particularly a valve on the main steam line. More troublesome, it scattered asbestos around the blast site. Workers will have to don protective suits before starting repairs. Officials at the university say the power-plant building is structurally sound, but the explosion did blow out the windows.

The university is currently working on a bypass line that will restore heat and water. The nearby dining hall was briefly closed as university officials feared asbestos contamination there.

In the meantime students have to shower in locker rooms at the stadium, or at a friend’s house off campus. The weather has been mercifully mild.—Scott Carlson