UPDATE 1/31/22:
Over the last several months, CPFM and EHS have been working on determining the faults that have caused the elevated lead issues in Hendricks Hall. What we identified was a water supply pipe that was not original and was installed with copper piping and lead-based solder.
Upon finding that issue, CPFM plumbers were able to devise a way to replace the faulty plumbing with new, lead-free components, eliminating the copper piping with lead-based solder from the supply lines to the second and third floor drinking fountains. The work was completed in December of 2021, with confirmation samples collected during January of 2022. The results came in the morning and were:
First Floor drinking fountain – 2.7 ppb
Second Floor drinking fountain – non-detect (<1 ppb)
Third floor drinking fountain – non-detect (<1 ppb)
The EPA action level for lead in drinking water is 15 ppb. We are well below that, so the fixtures have been turned on and the signs removed. They are now safe to use. EHS will collect follow up samples in a month or so (Early march, results mid-march), then again in six months (Early July, results in mid-July). Results will be posted on the EHS website. Building users will be notified if further issues are identified.
UPDATE 6/10/21:
Please notify affected personnel within Hendricks Hall. CPFM flushed the plumbing within Hendricks Hall and replaced the drinking fountain filters. Follow up confirmation samples were collected and analyzed, and showed no lead detected in the basement kitchenette and the first floor lobby. To that end, the basement and first floor fixtures will be returned to service. Out of an abundance of caution, additional testing will be conducted prior to Fall Term.
Elevated lead is still present at the drinking fountains on the second and third floors. The second and third floor drinking fountains will remain off-line for now, with temporary drinking water provided as an interim solution. Long term solutions are currently under development. Your patience is appreciated.
Please refer to THIS LINK for additional information. Feel free to contact me if you have questions.
Adam S. Jones, CIEC | Building Environmental Sciences 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
UPDATE 5/4/21:
The following steps will be taken in Hendricks Hall regarding the water issues we’re currently experiencing:
- Temporary water coolers will be provided. These will be located in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floor lobbies, and will be installed by a third party vendor tomorrow (Wednesday 5-5-2021). They will remain in the building until the built-in fixtures can be returned to service.
- The building plumbing system will be flushed. CPFM will be conducting this process today and tomorrow. If you come across water fixtures running in the building, please do not turn them off.
- New filters will be installed in each of the drinking fountains.
- The fixtures will be tested again by EHS.
- Fixtures will be returned to service upon receipt of an acceptable result. This is estimated to take up to two weeks.
Thank you for your patience as we work through this issue.
Original Notice:
The Hendricks Hall drinking fountains were tested in the past weeks following routine maintenance. Lead results were determined by laboratory testing to be elevated. This is most likely due to a prolonged period of no / low occupancy due to COVID resulting in extremely low water circulation in an aging plumbing system. As a result, the drinking water fountains within Hendricks Hall are shut down until further notice and will be posted this afternoon. CPFM, in cooperation with EHS, will assess further and develop an action plan early next week (Week of May 3, 2021). More information on this issue will follow as it develops.
Please refer to THIS LINK for additional information. Feel free to contact me if you have questions.
Adam S. Jones, CIEC | Building Environmental Sciences 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