Utilities Distribution » Utilities Website

Utilities Distribution consists of the Tunnel Shop and Water, Wastewater and Storm.

The Tunnel Shop is responsible for operating and maintaining roughly 6 miles of underground structures that house low pressure steam, high pressure steam, domestic hot water, condensate, and compressed air systems. This group also operates and maintains approximately 1.5 miles of direct buried steam and hot water piping systems.

Water, Wastewater and Storm is responsible for operating and maintaining roughly 120 miles of domestic water, sanitary, and storm water piping systems. They also maintain over 60 stormwater BMP structures that include:

Detention tanks,
Retention/infiltration tanks and ponds
Hydrodynamic separators
Water quality units
Swirl concentrators
Infiltration piping
Oil/water separators

Utilities Distribution Facts

There are 6.5 miles of piped utilities on Central Campus
The Tunnel Shop crew are also known as the Tunnel “Rats,” named in 1986
60% of Tunnels used today were built between 1925-1940
36 miles of domestic water piping are owned and maintained by U-M
There are currently 481 system service valves in the domestic water system as well as 600+ curb stops
The City and U-M domestic water systems interconnect in 32 places around campus
The oldest water mains on campus were installed in the 1920’s

Why do we use low pressure steam?

Low-pressure steam can be more economical to produce than high-pressure steam, as it requires less energy to create and does not lead to as much wear and tear on components. Low-pressure steam boilers heat and provide hot water to hospitals, university campuses, office buildings, and multi-family dwellings, for example.

Why do we use high pressure steam?

High-pressure steam is essential for providing higher energy transfer to down-stream point-of-use equipment.