Hi All:
This notification is provided as an update to the water issues that have been reported in the Volcanology Building during the Spring of 2022. The issues reported have been centered around discoloration in the water. The discoloration is due to rust in the piping. The following actions have been taken or are planned to remedy the situation:
- The building fixtures were inventoried. It was determined that dedicated drinking water fixtures are present in the first and second floor hallways as drinking fountains. All of the other fixtures in the building are lab fixtures and are not intended for drinking water use. They will not be managed as drinking water fixtures.
- In early May, the piping to the first floor drinking fountain was flushed and the filter in the first floor drinking fountain was changed. This did not remove the noted discoloration.
- Last week, then entire building plumbing system was flushed and the filter in the first floor drinking fountain was upgraded to a charcoal filter. This appears to have helped, but we’ll see how long it lasts.
- A charcoal filter will be added to the second floor drinking fountain.
- The water from the first and second floor drinking fountains will be tested for corrosion byproducts after the second floor fixture has been addressed.
If you identify discoloration in the drinking fountains, please notify me ASAP at asjones@uoregon.edu. We will coordinate with CPFM and try additional mitigation steps to work towards solving the problem.
Thanks,
Adam S. Jones, CIEC | Environmental Services Manager
Safety and Risk Services
Environmental Health & Safety
1260 University of Oregon | Eugene, OR 97403-1260
(541) 346-8397 | asjones@uoregon.edu
(541) 852-5685
