Water Quality

Water systems, including drinking water, hot and cold water lines to outlets such as faucets to sinks and showers, and cooling towers are monitored for common contaminants by EHS and Facilities and Property Management (FPM).

Drinking water is routinely tested for lead contamination in buildings. All hot/cold water lines from the source to the outlet (faucets, shower heads, etc.) are being tested for Legionella bacteria.

Quick Access Links:

Legionella Information
Drinking Water Testing Program

Legionella Bacteria

As defined by the CDC, Legionella, is a type of bacterium found naturally in freshwater but can become problematic when found in large quantities in human-made building water systems such as: showerheads and sink faucets, cooling towers for air cooling systems, decorative fountains / water fixtures, and large plumbing systems. Legionella can cause a pneumonia-like illness and is spread by inhalation, meaning that the droplets of contaminated water must be small enough to breathe in for there to be a risk of contracting it and is most problematic when found in building heating and cooling systems.

Testing

PSU initiated testing for Legionella bacteria in campus buildings in the summer of 2020. A detectable, but low level, of Legionella was identified in four buildings: Cramer Hall, Lincoln Hall, Shattuck Hall, and Montgomery Residence Hall. All campus cooling towers have also been tested as of June 2020 and no Legionella was detected.

Below are the buildings where this testing has been conducted to date, and whether or not the presence of Legionella was detected. Results will be updated as buildings are tested.

Building Abbreviation	Building Name	Detected 1st Round: 2020	Detected 2nd Round: 2020**	Detected 1st Round: 2021	Detected 2nd Round: 2021**
AB	Art Building and Annex	No	N/A	No	N/A
ASRC	Academic and Student Recreation Center	No	N/A	No	N/A
BDWY	Broadway Residence Hall	No	N/A	No	N/A
BLKS	Blackstone Residence Hall	No	N/A	No	N/A
BLU	Blumel Residence Hall	No	N/A	No	N/A
CH	Cramer Hall	Yes*	No	Yes*	No
CIN	Fifth Avenue Cinema	No	N/A	No	N/A
COR	Corbett	No	N/A	No	N/A
CPS	Campus Public Safety	No	N/A	No	N/A
EB	Engineering Building	No	N/A	No	N/A
EH	East Hall	No	N/A	No	N/A
FAB	Fourth Avenue Building	No	N/A	No	N/A
FMH	Fariborz Maseeh Hall	No	N/A	No	N/A
HAR	Harder House	No	N/A	No	N/A
HGCDC	Helen Gordon Child Development Center	No	N/A	No	N/A
HOFF	Hoffman Hall	No	N/A	No	N/A
HSB	Harrison Street Building	No	N/A	No	N/A
KMC	Karl Miller Center	No	N/A	No	N/A
KNGA	King Albert Residence Hall	No	N/A	No	N/A
LH	Lincoln Hall	Yes*	No	No	N/A
MONT	Montgomery Residence Hall	Yes*	No	No	N/A
ML	Millar Library	No	N/A	No	N/A
NASCC	Native American Student & Community Center	No	N/A	No	N/A
OND	Ondine Hall	No	N/A	No	N/A
PKM	Parkmill	No	N/A	No	N/A
PSC	Peter Stott Center	No	N/A	No	N/A
RGH	Research Green House	No	N/A	No	N/A
RMNC	Richard and Maurine Neuberger Center	No	N/A	No	N/A
SB1	Science Building 1	No	N/A	No	N/A
SBH	Simon Benson House			No	N/A
SEC	Science and Education Center	No	N/A	No	N/A
SEH	Stephen Epler Hall	No	N/A	No	N/A
SH	Shattuck Hall	Yes*	No	No	N/A
SMSU	Smith Memorial Student Union	No	N/A	No	N/A
SRTC	Science Research and Teaching Center	No	N/A	No	N/A
STHL	Saint Helens Residence Hall	No	N/A	No	N/A
UCB	University Center Building	No	N/A	No	N/A
UH	University Honors	No	N/A	No	N/A
UP	University Place Hotel	No	N/A	No	N/A
URBN	Urban Center Building	No	N/A	No	N/A
USB	University Services Building	No	N/A	No	N/A
WHP	West Heating Plant	No	N/A	No	N/A

*While Legionella in potable water poses less risk than in heating and cooling systems, PSU is following best practices to eliminate the Legionella and retest the water systems to confirm the bacteria is no longer present
**Lines with positive results from first round of testing are decontaminated and retested to confirm the bacteria is no longer present in the system

Flushing and Remediation

PSU incorporates industry best standards and City of Portland recommendations during the pandemic that includes flushing water fixtures in every building every three weeks. The four locations that tested positive have been resolved, including replacing fixtures and/or replacement and upgrades to water heating systems in Cramer and Lincoln Halls. Subsequent testing has shown no detectable levels of Legionella on campus.

As the campus remains mostly vacant to employees and students over the Spring and Summer, FPM plans to continue flushing the water systems to prevent any conditions that would allow for the growth of Legionella. This practice will continue through at least the end of August 2021, or until there is regular occupancy to the building.

Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Legionella website