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The Rice Thresher
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by Meghan Miller Thresher staff Workers trying to fix a water leak broke a natural gas line Wednesday afternoon, sending gas and water shooting 12 to 15 feet into the air between Hanszen and Will Rice Colleges. There were no explosions, and a minor cut sustained by a worker was the only injury reported. Construction workers from Harcon, one of Rice's main contractors, were digging with a backhoe to find the source of a water or steam leak when they struck the line. Though they were aware of the line's existence, the workers overestimated its depth underground. The source of the original leak had not been identified by late Wednesday afternoon. "The pressure in the lines was so great it was blowing upwards," Environmental Health and Safety Manager Bryan Galloy said. Galloy decided evacuation of the colleges was unnecessary. Food and Housing employees went inside the buildings to make sure there was not a heavy gas smell, which would indicate high concentrations of natural gas. Rice Emergency Medical Services was present to treat potential injuries, and University Police officers stood around the perimeter to keep people away from the scene. Because remaining in the buildings was not a health risk, the decision not to evacuate Will Rice also helped keep the number of spectators down. "We decided it would be best if people who were inside remained inside," Lt. Dianna Marshall said. Eight members of the Houston Fire Department were on hand, a routine procedure when there is a natural gas leak, Marshall said. They clamped the line within an hour of the breakage, stopping the leak until Entex workers arrived and repaired it. "There was wind and it was kind of dissipating the gas," Frank Rodriguez, interim assistant director of Housing Operations, said. "I'm just glad nothing blew up." The gas didn't need to be shut off at the main valve, but Will Rice residential buildings and Will Rice House were without gas service until 3:15 p.m. This only affected the laundry room dryers.
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