Mertz Hall Floods Due to Leak in Pipe

Mertz Hall flooded at approximately 3 p.m. Jan. 21 after a pipe burst and leaked water into the former entrance of the Centennial Forum.

Students in Mertz Hall reported the flooding to Loyola administration after smelling sewage which had leaked into the basement and soaked into the floor, according to third-year student Dawnbe Yu. 

Yu said she was working the reception desk in Mertz Hall at the time of the flood. 

“First we thought it was a gas leak because students were saying it smelled like gas,” Yu said. “Then we went down and ended up finding out it was just sewage, and that’s what the smell was.”

Soon after the flood, hired cleaners from the company Ecolab began cleaning the basement of Mertz Hall. They used fans, vacuums and water pumps in their effort to remove as much water as possible before further damage was done to the building. 

The Ecolab employees declined to comment on the cause and extent of the flood. 

Mertz Hall flooded Jan. 15, 2024 due to the sprinkler system freezing, The Phoenix previously reported. The building experienced similar below freezing temperatures in the past few days, though as of publication it’s unclear whether the flood was caused by frozen pipes. 

Mertz Hall has flooded during the winter months three times in the past four years. Last year’s flooding impacted the fourth floor of Mertz Hall, and in 2022 floods impacted floors two through eleven, the Phoenix previously reported. The extent of damage and the expected repair time for this year’s flood are still unknown. 

Neither Facilities nor Residence Life representatives were immediately available for comment.