A leak in a pipe on the south side of the Student Recreation Center caused the building to close for about an hour and a half yesterday.

“”Water ate a hole through a strainer in a pipe that fills the pool with water,”” said Dave Scheerens, a plumbing specialist with Facilities Management. “”We shut off the water around 1 p.m., and it took us about an hour and 10 minutes to repair.””

Earlier in the morning, a Rec Center employee noticed the leak and called Facilities Management, which had to shut down the building and evacuate students and employees as it turned off the water to repair the damage, said Juliette Moore, director of the Rec Center.

Because the leak was discovered early, Moore said the Rec Center knew in advance it would have to close and tried to coordinate a convenient time.

“”There were patrons that were displaced, and we apologize for that,”” Moore said. “”But at least we didn’t have to close for an entire day.””

Although the cause of the leak is uncertain, the age of the pipe and temperature changes might have contributed, said Richard Romero, associate director of the Rec Center.

“”The pipe is 17 or 18 years old, and it just gave way,”” Romero said. “”There was nothing that we could have done differently.””

While the Rec Center was closed, some students were frustrated and confused.

“”I don’t see what the pipes have to do with the basketball court or the weight room,”” said Evan Morey, a mechanical engineering freshman.

Rec Center employees also felt the impact of the closure, as they missed an hour and a half of pay, Romero said.

Problems like this are common on a campus of this size, Scheerens said.

“”This is a big place,”” he said. “”Stuff breaks.””