Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1977-1989 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 1984)
Qackamas Community College tile i i ] •rint Vol. XVIII, No. 8 Wednesday, November 21,^1984 EPA rules water safe to drink Health hazard could happen again By Fritz Wenzel Of The Print Nine days after Clackamas Com munity College’s water was found to contain high levels of potentially- dangerous bacteria, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lifted a boil water advisory on Monday, Nov. 19. Sixteen tests taken over the last three days indicated the bacteria fecal col iform, which comes specifically from the intestines of warm-blooded animals, was no longer present in the system. “The disinfection system broke down, and when that happens, there is nothing standing between you and the watershed,” EPA environmental engineer Ron Culver said. “There is the potential of any number of bacteria to be present in the water. The- two most common health problems would be Giardia and Hepatitis,” he added. “If fecal coliform was found in the water, then you could have run-off from a riverbank as well as from a cat tlefield,” Dan Lundy, the College’s in structor in the water quality technology said. Lundy explained that fecal coliform itself is harmless, but its presence in the water indicated there could be other bacteria present that could cause pro blems. The contamination problem began when recent hard rains caused soil from the riverbanks to wash down into the Clackamas River and into the water system, Culver said. Due to an overabundance of particles in the water, a condition known as turbidity, the chlorination system was neutraliz ed, he said. “Testing done Nov. 9 indicated there was a total coliform bacteria pre sent in the water,” Culver said, “so we issued the boil water advisory early that afternoon.” The College was first made aware of the problem on a widespread basis by the issuance of a memo to all staff members dated Nov. 13. All water fountains were shut off at that time. IN THE TRENCHES- Construction workers Win Dememge (front) and Harold Walz prepare foundation for pouring of cement on Barlow Hall addition construction site. Contracted for $700,000, the new addi tion is expected to be completed sometime in April. Photo by Joel Miller Lundy explained a total coliform situation indicates there could be harmful bacteria present. The next step, then, is to test for fecal coliform, which would indicate a possible serious health threat exists. Total coliform bacteria comes from both plants and animals, while fecal coliform comes specifically from warm-blooded animals. The College, along with Oregon City Fire Station 2 and Prince of Life Lutheran Church, receives its water from a 68-year-old steel pipe system known as the mountain line. The line is 16 inches in diameter and runs 27 miles from the south fork of the Clackamas (Continued on page six) Scholarship honors President Hakanson Clackamas Community College’s Board of Education members unanimously voted to establish a full-year music scholarship in hpnor of Col lege President John Hakanson at a special meeting held Nov. 14. The John W. Hakanson scholarship will be awarded annually to an outstanding music student. Criteria for the scholarship will be determined by Music Department representatives and the student financial aid officer. Hakanson was honored with a music scholarship because of his long-time in terest in the subject. Both Hakanson and his wife Helen sing in the Lutheran Choral Association, and Helen Hakanson participates in local old-time fiddle groups. The scholarship was originally to be funded by in vesting an initial amount of $6,000 through the College’s Foundation, with the interest accrued to be used for the award. The College’s attorney determined, however, that Oregon statutes prevent the College from making a gift of money to the Foundation in perpetuity, so the Board voted to rescind the previous action and seek other funding.