High levels of bacteria contaminated
the water supply in Penn
Hall on Friday, Sept. 4, but levels
returned to normal after the entire
campus system was flushed with
chlorine.
The independent lab hired by
Bucks to perform monthly tests
for impurities in the school’s
water supply alerted the Bucks
physical plant after results revealed
unsafe levels of coliform
bacteria.
Physical Plant Manager Mark
Grisi responded to the news, sending
custodians to post signs warning
people of the bacteria, a requirement
under state law. The
custodians then shut off the
faucets and placed plastic bags
over sinks.
Grisi also ordered the entire system
to be flushed with chlorine in
order to kill the bacteria.
Chlorine is added to the system
from the boiler room, and then
spreads throughout the buildings
on campus. This is done carefully,
because, just as high levels of bacteria
can make a water supply unsafe,
high concentrations of
chlorine can contaminate the
water as well.
By Tuesday, Sept. 8, levels of
coliform bacteria and chlorine returned
to safe levels.
An instructor in Penn Hall who
asked to remain anonymous said
that one of the secretaries working
in the building had fallen ill over
the period between Friday and
Tuesday. It is unclear whether or
not the spike in bacteria caused
the illness.
In a meeting with Director of
Security and Safety Dennis Mc-
Cauley and Grisi, McCauley defended
Grisi’s actions as Plant
Manager, but he also said that the
school’s Safety Committee would
review this event and reassess the
procedures now in place for dealing
with contaminated water.