Over the weekend, some of you may have seen the Associated Press (AP) article regarding lead in Galesburg’s drinking water, as well as additional coverage in our local and regional media. Facilities Services has received a few questions from members of the community regarding Knox’s water, and I’d like to provide the full campus with an update regarding this issue.
As has been stated in the various media accounts, the issues concerning lead in Galesburg’s drinking water are focused on lead intake pipes into individual residences. City water service lines do not contain lead, but many of the older homes in town do have lead service pipes. Concern over the City of Galesburg’s most recent test results originate from the fact that four of the 30 homes tested in 2015 had levels of lead in the water that exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s action level.The action level does not indicate that there are unacceptable levels of lead in the water, but, instead, that the levels are such that action should be taken to further investigate and address the issue.
While Knox is a historic campus with many older buildings, we know with certainty that more than 95 percent of buildings on campus, including administrative and academic buildings and residence halls, do not have lead service lines. We have initiated testing in specific locations on campus with older service lines to determine if the lead levels in the water supply rise above the action level noted by the EPA. We are in the process of contacting individuals in the locations where tests are taking place and are working with them to address any issues or questions they may have. The health and safety of the Knox College community is, of course, our topmost priority, and we will take all actions necessary to ensure the safety of the College’s water supply should the testing reveal any concerns.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me or Scott Maust, director of facilities services.
Sincerely,
Keith Archer
Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services