OFS Utilities

OFS Steam Utility Our mission is to provide courteous, responsive, cost-effective service

OFS provides heating to much of the NMSU Campus through steam generated at the Central Utility Plant.

Where does the steam go?

Generation of steam at the Central Utilities Plant is only the beginning of the steam cycle. Once the steam leaves the plant, it is transferred through pipes to most of the buildings throughout the campus. Steam is primarily used for heating domestic water and keeping the buildings warm in the winter. But steam has other uses on campus. Steam is also used to cook with and also used in sterilization equipment. The Meat Lab uses steam to generate 180° F water for cleaning equipment.

What happens once the steam is used?

Once the steam has given up it's heat, it condenses back into water. We recover as much condensate as possible to reduce water and chemical usage back in the plant.

Why do I see steam rising out of some of the buildings?

In most cases this is natural and is not a waste of energy. The steam that can be seem rising up from the rooftops of some buildings on a cool morning is called flash steam. Our condensate receivers and flash tanks are vented to atmosphere. Venting is to allow any leftover steam to flash off before the condensate is pumped back to the plant to be reused. It also keeps a vacuum from being created in our gravity lines. Because the campus is higher near Pan Am Center, we are able to let the condensate flow back to the plant under gravity pressure. On the lower points of campus we use pumps to bring the condensate back.

What do I do if I think there is a steam leak?

First of all, don't go near it. The high pressure steam produced at the Central Utilities Plant is 100 PSI at a temperature of 335° F! It will burn your skin if you come into contact with it. We rely on the campus community to assist us in identifying leaks of any kind. Immediately call 646-7114 to report it.