Whitewater water crisis spurs India fundraiser

Associated Press  —  4/23/2008 11:20 am

WHITEWATER -- College students who went without heat and hot water in their dorms for about six days are getting the service back -- and using the experience in a fundraiser to provide safe drinking water to those who need it in India.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater said temporary repairs to the steam system allowed hot water to be restored in some residence halls by 4 p.m. Tuesday, and others were getting it restored Tuesday night. Hot water and steam were to be restored to all campus buildings by noon today, officials said.

A backup boiler exploded during routine maintenance last Wednesday, shutting down the steam used for the heating and hot water system throughout the campus. One worker had minor injuries.

Hot showers had been available during daytime hours since Friday at the Athletic Services Building, and students living off the campus made their hot showers available to others.

Of the 10,500 students at UW-Whitewater, about 3,600 live in the 11 residence halls on campus.

"This has certainly been an inconvenience for our students, but in typical Warhawk fashion our students rose to the occasion with little complaint," interim Chancellor Richard Telfer said.

Officials said a number of student groups, including Whitewater Student Government, plan to collect money for the Rotary India Water Trust, which is developing a sustainable water supply for some 650 villages in India with a total of about 1 million people. It costs $300 for each well.

Posters being put up by the groups read: "Think not having a hot shower is bad? Try not having clean drinking water."

Donations are to be made through the Whitewater/Delavan Darien Rotary Clubs.

"I feel that we should create some good out of our unfortunate situation, like funding wells for people in India," said Alison Rygh, president-elect of Whitewater Student Government.

Associated Press  —  4/23/2008 11:20 am