Empty Campus | Photo by Soham Parikh | The Wright State Guardian
Wright State University (WSU) Environmental Health and Safety Board announced the end of a semester-long water emergency after test results showed no significant water contamination.
Contamination
In a campus-wide communication, WSU announced the end of a months-long water warning.
The warning, originally issued in mid-June, was paused then reinstated in July. It was caused by an HVAC system construction accident. According to university officials, contractors who did not have the proper dig permits accidentally dug into a pipe containing ethylene glycol, a toxic and dangerous substance used in HVAC systems. Cross-contamination concerns with the campus water system ensued.
Testing
To ensure water safety, the WSU environmental health and safety board conducted testing every couple of weeks in July, in addition to repeatedly flushing the water system. The first test, conducted right after the leak was identified, showed no cross-contamination causing the original warning to be lifted for a two-week period. The second test in July showed levels of ethylene glycol, over four times the safe amount, in the water system.
The second set of test results prompted the water warning to be reinstated, the campus pool closure and additional testing.
READ MORE: New Water Warning Issued, Toxic Substance Found in WSU Water
According to WSU communication, the third round of testing only showed water contamination in two buildings, Biological Sciences I and II.
The results for the fourth test, taking place on July 19, showed that the levels of ethylene glycol in the water system are below the detectable amount, prompting the lifting of the water advisory.
