Author Archives | Jack Pitcher

Residence hall water samples contained up to 15 times the EPA-approved lead level

The amount of lead in select faucets and drinking fountains on campus was over twice the Environmental Protections Agency’s “action level” of 15 parts per billion last spring, according to public records published by University of Oregon Safety and Risk Services.

According to the EPA, water that tests higher than 15 ppb is unsafe for human consumption. Utility companies must take action to treat their water if lead levels exceed 15 ppb.

UO alerted residents in September that water in Bean, Hamilton, Walton and Barnhart halls had tested above the 15 ppb federal action level, but it did not specify the actual results. Initial sample test results show that multiple fixtures in all four halls had lead levels above 30 ppb, twice the EPA action level.

A lack of consistent lead testing before this spring means that water has been lead-tainted for an unknown amount of time.

University spokesman Kelly McIver confirmed that given the lack of consistent testing, it is possible UO lead levels were over the EPA’s action level last school year. 

According to McIver, the university did not regularly test for lead before this spring.

“In the past there was testing that was done, but it was not on a regular and ongoing basis. Testing happened as individual departments or buildings requested it,” McIver said. “Everything that the university is doing, in terms of the levels they choose to respond to and the testing program, is all voluntary.”

The EPA has mandatory testing regulations for utility companies, child care facilities and other institutions, but those mandatory regulations don’t cover the UO.

The reports also show the location of tainted faucets and water fountains in academic buildings such as Columbia Hall, Erb Memorial Union, Volcanology Hall, Clinical Services Building, Condon Hall, Knight Library, McMorran House and Treetops house.

Any water sources that continue to test positive for lead after treatment are shut off and marked, according to Adam Jones, building science manager with Risk and Safety Services.

Full test results and confirmation levels are available online. Three types of water samples were taken: “initial,”flush” and “confirmation.”

Initial samples are “first draw” samples collected directly from the tap after a period of no usage. These samples were used to determine if a flush test – testing after the water has run for 30 seconds – was needed. Confirmation samples are taken after mitigation has been completed, to assure the water is safe to consume. The tests are conducted by an independent lab in Seattle, McIver said. 

One initial sample from a faucet in Barnhart Hall had a 229 ppb lead level, more than 15 times higher than the EPA’s action level. It dropped to 3.19 ppb after being flushed.

But this post-flush drop was not the case with all fixtures. A sample taken from a faucet in the Barnhart Cafe Bar was initially 61.3 ppb, but measured 74.8 ppb after a 30-second flush.

According to the CDC, “No safe blood level [for lead] has been identified, and all sources of lead exposure for children should be controlled or eliminated. Lead concentrations in drinking water should be below the U.S. EPA’s action level of 15 parts per billion.”

Exposure to lead can cause behavioral problems and learning disabilities in young children and also affect the health of adults, according to the CDC.

The university is currently working to fix lead issues in buildings across campus, according to its interactive map. Water was declared safe to drink in Bean, Hamilton and Barnhart halls in an Oct. 4 email to residents.

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Downed tree blocks MLK Blvd. at Autzen Stadium

A downed tree is blocking traffic on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd just past the intersection with Leo Harris Parkway near Autzen Stadium.

The tree is currently being removed and should be clear within the hour, according to an EPD officer on the scene.

One eastbound lane remains open while all others are blocked. Drivers can take Leo Harris Parkway as a detour if they are traveling westbound.

The downed tree comes in the wake of a wind advisory released by the National Weather Service for the southern Willamette Valley. The advisory is in effect until 5 p.m.

The NWS recommends that Eugene residents “delay or reschedule outdoor activities” until conditions improve.

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Water in Bean and Hamilton halls now safe to consume

Water in Bean and Hamilton halls is now safe to drink and cook with, according to an email sent to residents from University Housing on Oct. 4.

“You may now use all bathroom sinks for cooking and teeth brushing, in addition to washing in Bean Hall. You may also use any drinking fountain that is turned on and has a green sticker noting that the water fixture meets EPA recommendations for consumption,” the email read.

University spokesman Kelly McIver confirmed that water is also safe to consume in Hamilton Hall.

“Earlier this week we let Bean and Hamilton residents know that they can resume using those fixtures for cleaning or for drinking water,” McIver said.

Tests are still pending for the water in Walton Hall.

“There were some delays in getting confirmation test results back for Walton,” McIver said.

The lead contamination of resident hall water was a result of old fountain and sink aerators, according to McIver. An aerator is the screen at the end of a faucet or water fountain that makes water come out evenly. Aerators can collect metal particles and contaminate water, McIver said.

“Aerators can collect metal particles from the sink fixture over time,” McIver said. “The aerator can then essentially collect and increase the amount of lead in the water that passes through.”

McIver said that aerators in the residence halls were cleaned or replaced when necessary. The water fixtures were then tested before being cleared for use.

Prior to move-in day in September, UO Housing warned residents of Bean, Barnhart, Walton and Hamilton halls not to drink their water due to the elevated levels of lead, the Emerald reported.

The water from the affected faucets has more than 15 parts of lead per billion, which is unsafe for human consumption, according to federal Environmental Protection Agency. High lead levels in water can contribute to negative health effects, especially for pregnant women, infants and children under 6.

In response to the growing problem, the University of Oregon’s Environmental Health and Safety Office launched a comprehensive drinking water monitoring plan in late May 2016. According to McIver, the program has been collecting water samples sporadically this year, with the focus on living spaces and child care centers. Results from Vivian Olum Child Development Center and Moss Street Children’s Center came back earlier and showed the water was safe to consume.

 

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Tenants at The Andy apartment complex warned not to use their balconies

The Andy apartment complex, located blocks away from campus, warned tenants today not to use their balconies because of safety issues.

“To all tenants: Please do not use your balconies until further notice. Thank you for your full cooperation,” read an email sent to residents.

Notices were also posted on the doors of select apartments on each floor of the building. The Andy is operated by Von Klein Property Management.

According to Larry Von Klein of Von Klein Property Management, a tenant recently reported an issue with the sliding glass door leading to their balcony. After the balcony was inspected by a contractor, the warning was issued.

According to Von Klein, engineers said “everything was okay,” and the contractor found “no major issues” upon inspection. He said that there is no immediate safety issue and this is just a “preventative measure.” Even though the notice says not to, Von Klein said it’s fine for tenants to use their balconies as long as they aren’t in groups.

“It’s okay for one or two students to be on the balconies. We just don’t want large groups out there jumping up and down,” Von Klein said.

The Andy is located at the corner of 18th and Patterson Street in the West Campus neighborhood. The 33 unit building opened in 2014, and won an American Institute of Architects award for multi-family housing.

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Evans Scholarship house opens at University of Oregon

The Evans Scholars Foundation, which awards full tuition and housing scholarships to golf caddies from underprivileged families, has opened a chapter house at the University of Oregon. The house, located at 1910 University St., is now home to 30 Evans scholars.

Scholarship recipients are chosen based on caddying record, academic strength, financial need and demonstrated leadership and character, according to the foundation. There are currently 935 Evans Scholars attending 20 different universities across the country.

The ESF operates scholarship houses at 15 universities, but the UO house is the first to open in the Pacific Northwest. UO Evans Scholars lived together in Earl Hall prior to the opening of the house.

For UO chapter president Hannah Rice, the scholarship has been life changing.

“For me, the Evans Scholarship meant college,” Rice said. “I grew up poor, and I was not going to get to go unless I made something happen. When I heard about this opportunity in high school, I threw everything I had at it.”

Rice got her start caddying as a sophomore in high school through a Portland Parks and Recreation program designed to give underprivileged students with strong grades an opportunity to work at local golf courses. She heard about the Evans Scholarship through that program, and now she will be graduating debt free this spring.

Rice’s roommate, sophomore Evans scholar Samantha Pham, had a similar experience.

“The scholarship has opened a lot of doors for me. Without it, I wouldn’t have all the opportunities that I have today,” Pham said.

The house has been in the works for more than four years, according to Bill Moses, ESF West Region director. Moses, an Evans Scholar alum, says the new house will help build a greater bond and sense of community among scholarship recipients.

“[Living in the house] is the best way to form those friendships,” said Moses. “We’re very committed to it. It’s not cheap operating the house, but we believe it’s worth the investment.”

 Rice is excited to take on her role as president and set an example for the 11 freshmen living in.

“Being the president of the chapter is awesome; it’s an honor,” she said. “They were working on getting the house when I was a freshman, three years ago. To finally be living here, I get to see the dream realized.”

High school students interested in applying for the Evans Scholarship can get more information at http://www.wgaesf.org.

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