Michigan State University said 83% of students living on its East Lansing campus had hot water again on Friday, but thousands of residents were still waiting for showers and taps to return to normal after a power-plant failure.
The disruption began after a campus-wide power outage on September 19, when a fault at the T.B. Simon Power Plant interrupted the generation of electricity and steam. Although power has since been restored, condensation in the university’s steam network has continued to affect hot-water supplies.
Hot water restoration continues in phases
Michigan State’s Infrastructure Planning and Facilities teams have been restoring steam and hot water across the campus in stages. The university says the network serves more than 100 buildings, with roughly 80% of the campus’s building space relying on steam for hot water.
Residence halls still affected include buildings in the Brody and South neighbourhoods, where students have faced several days without normal access to hot showers. The university has warned that the restoration timetable can vary between buildings as systems are tested and brought back online.
Residential and Hospitality Services has arranged alternative shower facilities for students who remain without hot water. Mobile shower units have been provided at West Circle, with further facilities planned for the Brody neighbourhood, while shuttle transport is available to the Hannah Community Centre and University Club.
Students in affected halls have been given instructions on reserving shower times and reaching the temporary facilities. Hot meals remain available in campus dining halls, although some menus and operations have been adjusted while steam-dependent equipment is restored.
Michigan State has said the water supply itself remains safe to drink and use for cooking, even in buildings where hot water service has not yet returned. University officials have indicated that full restoration is expected to continue through the weekend, with some areas not scheduled to be reconnected until Sunday, September 27.
