University Housing will finish repairs to a damaged sewage line in Bragaw Residence Hall during fall break, according to Scott Scherer, University Housing’s facilities construction supervisor.

The sewage issue was caused by people flushing hand towels down the toilet, Scherer said.

According to Scherer, the problem occurred several weeks ago and the pipe was repaired immediately at the start of the semester.

“This [has] happened a few times,” Scherer said. “Every time we had to get that line cleaned up.”

Scherer said the Bragaw Hall was built in the mid 60s and over time the pipeline has rusted.

“So this pipeline did rust and flushing paper towel down the toilet got caught where the pipeline has rusted out,” Scherer said.

According to Scherer, housing facilities used a sewer camera to explore inside of the line and discovered holes in the pipeline. The exploration found the bottom of the line has rusted and created a place where paper towels can become wedged.

“Once we saw that, we knew it had to be repaired so we busted up the floor, dug it up and replaced that section with a new pipe, and then covered it back up,” Scherer said.

Scherer said the plywood floors have covered the new pipeline since Aug. 15 and will hide the repairs until fall break.

“That concrete has to cure for at least 20 days until the students are able to walk on it,” Scherer said. “We’re going to pour it over fall break.

Scherer said that section of the rusted pipe is permanently fixed.

“We are not having any more issues with the bathroom and the final repair for it will happen over fall break,” Scherer said.

Bridgett Lozano, a sophomore in political science, said she was surprised when she walked by the plywood floor one morning.

“I didn’t know we had that type of pipe problem,” Lozano said. “I almost tripped when I was walking to Fountain Dining Hall.”

Lozano said she is glad they have fixed it soon.

“It might have been a problem for other the people who getting to the mailboxes or if they are walking through that hallway,” She said.

Lozano also said she didn’t know there was a sewage problem in Bragaw Hall.

“That’s an issue [University Housing] needs to pay more attention to,” Lozano said. “If it happens twice, then students need to pay attention and be careful to what they are throwing downs the toilet.”

“The housing department does fix things pretty quickly and when something breaks down they get on it pretty quick and make sure it’s repaired,” Lozano said.

Taylor Baker, a senior in turf grass management, said the repairing process was really loud and obnoxious.

“It was hard to work down here and it was right around move-in, [so it] was hard to check residents in and people would come to look at what was going on,” Baker said.

Baker also said they have the plywood on the floor is an acceptable temporary alternative while the problem is being addressed.

“It’s what they had to do.” He said. “I think the problem was resolved in a timely manner.”