AU experienced campus-wide water pressure problems Monday and Tuesday because of a leaky valve.
Johnnie Hemphill, spokesman for the Washington Water and Sewer Authority, said the Authority was conducting a test on a valve near Fort Reno in Tenleytown. This testing took place Monday night, according to Julie Weber, executive director of Housing and Dining Programs.
There were further problems when the Authority tried to fix the valve, according to Weber.
"After a subvalve began leaking, we immediately attempted to isolate the problem and notify the affected customers," Hemphill said. "The affected valve served mostly Northwest D.C."
Weber said late Wednesday afternoon that the water shortage on campus "appears to be all resolved."
"Since water is supplied by the city, there's nothing we can do," Weber said. "All we can do is let students know that water is out and advise students to use as little water as possible."
Students said the water pressure problems were not much of an issue.
"It was minorly inconvenient when I was on campus for five minutes," graduate student John Benedetto said. "I wanted to get a glass of water, but I couldn't."
Freshman Courtney Romain, who lives in Anderson Hall, said, "The toilets were really gross, but that's about it."
Hemphill was unaware Wednesday if the problem was completely fixed because of the wide variety of problems customers experienced. "Some experienced no water pressure at all, whereas others didn't even notice any problems," he said.
The leaky valve has been identified, but water pressure is still not back to normal in all parts of the affected area, Hemphill said.
"The reason why the problem is not fixed as of Wednesday was because we are waiting for a time to fix the valve when it will not affect many customers," he said. "The problem is not hazardous to our customers or the environment."
The Water and Sewer Authority expects to have the pressure back to normal in all areas by Friday.
