A 2020 report published by Citrus College says the campus’s water supply system needs improvement because it is old.
The findings reported in the 2020-2030 Educational and Facilities Master Plan says the “campus’s potable water supply system is aged and requires upgrading.”
This has great implications because an old water supply system may reduce the protective barriers to potential contaminants.
Utilities can carry a high risk of contamination and harmful elements if not properly maintained. With that in mind, Citrus Clarion reporters tested the drinking waters at Citrus at 10 different locations to determine how clean it is.
The tests were conducted with the use of water testing strips and confirmed the presence of varying safe levels of mineral substances that are below contamination limits.
In an email interview, the director of facilities and construction, Fred Diamond, said that the “water supply system drinking water safety is unaffected” by an aged supply system.
For water to be considered safe, it must have a low concentration of harmful contaminants such as bacteria, acidity and other substances.
An article by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that “drinking water that is not properly treated or that travels through an improperly maintained distribution system (pipes) may also create conditions that increase risk of contamination.”
The tested water fountains, which were in nine different buildings on campus (Owl Cafe, Hayden Library, LB, PS, VA and TC building, Math/Science, Life Science, and the outside of performing arts building) revealed the following results at the time of the testing:
- A high level of water hardness: Hard water is caused by hot weather, lack of rain and the presence of minerals. Drinking hard water is not dangerous, but it can still be an inconvenience as it leaves stains on hard surfaces if left for too long. It also benefits a person’s health as it contains minerals like calcium and magnesium.
- A high pH level: The pH level of water is used to measure how acidic or basic water is. A high pH level indicates acidity. The testing result revealed that a high number of water fountains at Citrus have a high pH level ranging from 7.8 to 8.4. The human body has a pH level of 7.4 and needs to take in water that has the same amount of pH level as the body. However, an article by UCLA Health said that “there had been no evidence of harm found in drinking water with a pH level between 7 and 8.5.”
- A high alkaline level: The testing showed that six of the ten water fountains had high alkaline levels, which to some degree is beneficial to the body as it helps neutralize the acid in the bloodstream.
- A low level of free and total chlorine: Chlorine is a disinfectant that kills bacteria. The testing revealed that most of the water from the drinking fountains had low chlorine levels. However, as an outlier, the water fountain on the second floor of the Math/Science Building revealed a high level of chlorine at the time of testing that was ideal for a swimming pool. However, this might be due to the recent addition of chlorine before the testing was conducted.
Diamond said the question of how often the water is tested for contaminants is one for the water purveyor, Azusa Light and Water, which is a utility company responsible for the supply of water to the city of Azusa and portions of Glendora, which includes Citrus College.
Azusa Light and Water in its 2021 Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report said that “drinking water may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of contaminants” because as “water travels, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and in some cases radioactive materials.” The report also said that “the presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that drinking water poses a health risk.”
In the report, two contaminants, trihalomethanes– a byproduct of chlorine– and nitrates, measured by Azusa Light and Water in their distribution system were said to be below the contamination limit set by the California Environmental Protection Agency.
Sam Brennecke, a math major at Citrus College, said he does not directly drink from the water fountains; he only uses the water bottle fillers, which are sparsely located around campus such as the library, Owl Café and the Math/Science building. These water bottle fillers have a filtration system, but the fountains don’t.
Brennecke also said he understands why chlorine was high in the Math/Science Building as chlorine is used as a disinfectant to kill bacteria. However, at the same time, he said he feels that “it is probably not healthy” as one should never drink pool water that contains high levels of chlorine meant for disinfecting.
Nowadays, students are seen with their refillable water bottles, thus reducing the need for a drink from the fountains.
Gareth Osborne, a pre-engineering major, said that he usually never drinks from the water fountain because he usually packs water and that having his water bottle to drink from is less “gross” than drinking directly from a water fountain.
Diamond also said in an email that the “filters are changed when they are full, which is predicated upon frequency of use.” He said the manufacturer indicates as a generality that a typical filter lasts for about one year, but that is still “predicated upon actual usage.”
He also said concerning the sanitation routine of the drinking fountains that “custodial operations are done nightly.”
