Division of Operations
Facilities Management and Campus Services
TO: Shutdown Group, Mellon Group
FROM: Service Response Center
DATE: December 2, 2019
SUBJECT: Mellon Institute Drinking Water Sampling- 12/2-12/13
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) will be conducting drinking water sampling throughout Mellon Institute starting Monday, December 2, 2019 and ending Friday, December 13, 2019. The purpose of sampling is to continue periodic testing under the EHS Drinking Water Quality Program and to determine if corrosion controls implemented by the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) in spring 2019 were effective.
PWSA treats Allegheny River water and then distributes it through pipes to its customers, including Carnegie Mellon. Treated drinking water does not contain lead, but as it enters the service line, building plumbing, and fixtures, all of which may contain lead, this metal can leach into the water. In spring 2019, PWSA began applying orthophosphate, a federally approved food-grade additive, during water treatment. This additional treatment is expected to reduce corrosion from pipes made of lead.
All potential drinking water outlets, including water fountains, bottle fillers, and kitchen sinks, will be sampled in accordance with the following process:
- EHS will remove the drinking water fixture from service in the afternoon at approximately 2-4 PM, posting signage indicating that the outlet is not to be used. It is crucial to the sampling process that these fixtures are NOT used. Please note: if signage is removed by someone other than EHS, or if it appears that the fixture has been used, the sampling process will need to be repeated and the fixture in question will be removed from usage for another day.
- The following day at approximately 7-9 AM, EHS will collect a sample of the water. The signage will be removed by EHS immediately after sampling, and the outlet will be available for use.
- EHS expect to have the results of these tests in 2-4 weeks after the testing is completed. EHS will analysis the results and will communicate to the MI occupants.
A tentative sampling schedule has been created and is as follows:
· December 2-6: Mellon Institute floors 1-4
|
Date |
Procedures and Affected Areas |
|
December 2 |
stagnate first half of floors 1-2 (2-4 PM) |
|
December 3 |
sample first half of floors 1-2 (7-9 AM); stagnate second half of floors 1-2 (2-4 PM) |
|
December 4 |
sample second half of floors 1-2 (7-9 AM); stagnate first half of floors 3-4 (2-4 PM) |
|
December 5 |
sample first half of floors 3-4 (7-9 AM); stagnate second half of floors 3-4 (2-4 PM) |
|
December 6 |
sample second half of floors 3-4 (7-9 AM) |
· December 9-13: Mellon Institute floors 5-8
|
Date |
Procedures and Affected Areas |
|
December 9 |
stagnate first half of floors 5-6 (2-4 PM) |
|
December 10 |
sample first half of floors 5-6 (7-9 AM); stagnate second half of floors 5-6 (2-4 (PM) |
|
December 11 |
sample second half of floors 5-6 (7-9 AM); stagnate first half of floors 7-8 (2-4 PM) |
|
December 12 |
sample first half of floors 7-8 (7-9 AM); stagnate second half of floors 7-8 (2-4 PM) |
|
December 13 |
sample second half of floors 7-8 (7-9 AM) |
If you have any questions, please reach out to safety@andrew.cmu.edu or 412-268-8182.