The residents of Bundy Hall, predominantly sophomores, have dealt with severe water issues in both the showers and with the sinks for much of the school year. Residents complain about scorching hot water, as well as the complete opposite, with the showers never able to warm to an aprporaite temperature.
“I’ve had no hot water twice…literally the saddest days of my life. Both days were in winter and all I wanted to do was take a hot shower,” said Kate Everett ’20. “[I’m] not sure what’s been done to fix it but I’m checking into a hotel if it happens again.”
With many Bundy residents already feeling stuck with one of the more unfortunate locations on campus, they see this water issue as just another issue residents have to deal with. Many say that they are completely unable to get hot water during their showers, and it has become a rising joke amongst those living down the hill.
“Being a big fan of the hot shower, it has been slightly unsettling to hop in only to be greeted by a cold splash,” said Cole Kroninger ’20.
On the other hand, many residents have been met with intensely hot water, and the ability to turn down the temperature is completely beyond their control.
“Every time the toilet flushes, it gets scorching hot for a second but it goes back to normal pretty quickly.” said Mason Sheridan ’20. The extremities of the water temperature has generated discontentment throughout Bundy East and West, and a major source of discussion on campus.
“It was fixed for a bit in the beginning of the semester, but four weeks in and we’re back to square one,” said Vince Sorrentino, ’20. Many thought that the water issues that they had been experiencing all year would finally vanish, but they have only returned with perseverance to annoy the residents of Bundy.
However, the Physical Plant, lacking continued student complaints, was under the impression that the water temperature issue had been fixed after receiving prior work orders. Upon my calling them, they were genuinely surprised that Bundy residence hall was still having issues with the showers, and were not aware that the issue was in both the communal showers and the individual ones.
“We received two work orders from individual rooms in the beginning of February,” said William Huggins, Associate Director of Physical Plant for Building Services. “But we have not had any complaints directed to the Physical Plant since then.”
Although the water temperature continues to be an issue, it was not brought up again to Physical Plant since the beginning of the semester, when students briefly had access to sufficiently heated showers.
“This is one of the things we prioritize. We do not want any of the students experiencing major living issues like this,” said Huggins. “But we cannot help if we are not aware that the problem has returned!”
Fixes done to the heating systems in the beginning of the semester have not been permanent, but those involved with building services have yet to be informed of the issue. Until they are able to permanently fix the showers’ heating systems, the Bundy residents will have to continue to contend with the frigid temperatures and cold water. Luckily, this week has given them some respite in the former department.
