Water restored to campus after broken city water main repaired

Water service has been restored to the Western Washington University campus after an early morning interruption that affected campus and much of south Bellingham.

A city water main broke this morning on 15th Street and between Larabbee and Donovan avenues, affecting water supply to campus in numerous buildings.

Students, faculty and staff may use water on campus, but anyone experiencing trouble with the water supply on campus should call Facilities Management at (360) 650-3420 to report the problem.

Two messages were sent to campus and the community this morning via the Western Alert system, at 8:06 a.m. and 9:15 a.m.

A three-square-block area of Bellingham's southside remains without water service Wednesday morning after a break in a large water main.

The culprit was a 12-inch cast iron pipe built in 1926. It broke at about 6:45 this morning, according to a press release from the city of Bellingham.

Water service has been restored to all but six houses, according to the release.

Bellingham Public Works Superintendent Bob Bandarra said an estimated 728,000 gallons of water was lost in less than an hour. He said more information will be made available as it is known.