Student Services
Water Filtration Systems
Most of the water filter systems that we use on campus are 2-stage whole house filter systems. "2-stage" means 2 filters in each system. The first filter is a 10 micron pre-filter that eliminates sediment. The second filter is a 0.5 micron carbon filter that eliminates MTBE (a gasoline additive often found in groundwater), VOCs (volatile organic compounds), lead, cysts, and most chlorine. The other type of system, which we generally use on water fountains, are single stage systems, with only a carbon filter.
Both types give water that is much better than tap water, but not as good as you would get from a reverse osmosis (RO) system or the filtered water stations at Everybody's. For example, the 2-stage systems remove most chlorine but no fluoride. To remove fluoride you must use an RO system.
The University tries to provide the best water filter systems that its budget allows. If people want higher quality water, I recommend that they go to the water machines in Everybody's, which have a Glacier Water 6-stage system that includes RO. Everybody's charges 19 cents a gallon for Glacier machine water.
The rebuilt Dome Market will include the same type of water machine. For those who are concerned about mineral depletion in RO water, Everybody's carries a product called ConcenTrace Trace Mineral Drops, which can be used to remineralize water for about 10 cents a gallon.
Here are some detailed specs on the pre-filters and carbon filters we use on campus. These come from http://www.filtersfast.com.
The Culligan CW-F string wound polypropylene whole house filter is designed to reduce extra fine sand, dirt, silt, rust, and scale particles.
- 10 Micron Rating
- Reduces sand, rust, sediment, silt, dirt and scale particles
- Flow rate: 10 GPM @ < 1 psi
- Temp Range: 40 - 165 F
The Pentek CBR2-10 Under Sink Carbon Filter with lead-reduction media filters lead, VOC's, extra-fine sediment, bad taste & odor, and chlorine taste & odor from your drinking water.
- .5 Micron Rating
- Temp Range: 40 - 165 F
- Flow Rate: 0.5 - 1 GPM
- NSF Standard 42 Test and Certified
- Removes chlorine taste & odor, cysts, lead, VOC, MTBE and extra fine sediment
- Removes 99.95% of Cryptosporidium and Giardia Cysts
Dining hall cooking water goes through a special 3-stage system that eliminates more chlorine than a 2-stage system.
We monitor the water filter systems on campus and change the filters when needed according to taste. Below is a list of campus water filter stations:
Slow flow 2-stage systems (best type of on-campus system)
- Hirises: sink in basement laundry room
- Frats 106, 109, 110, 111, 112, 150: sink next to basement laundry area
- Vastu dorms: kitchen sink
- Hildenbrand
- sink in south wing laundry room on middle floor
- sink in south wing laundry room on upper floor
- sink in north wing laundry room
- sink in north wing basement bathroom basement kitchen sink
- Henn Mansion: kitchen sink
- Headley Hall: kitchen sink
Fast flow 2-stage systems (not as good as slow flow 2-stage but better than 1-stage)
- Argiro
- cold and hot water dispensers in south dining hall northwest corner
- hot water dispenser in south dining hall northeast corner
- cold and hot water dispensers in north dining hall
- cold and hot water dispensers in cafe
- Mens Dome: drinking fountain
- Ladies Dome: drinking fountain
- Dreier: drinking fountains on all 3 floors
- Veda Bhavan: drinking fountain
- McLaughlin: drinking fountain
- Science Wing: drinking fountain in north corridor
1-stage systems (not as good as 2-stage but better than tap water)
- Library
- drinking fountain in upstairs corridor near east entrance
- drinking fountain in southwest corner of basement
- Argiro: drinking fountains outside student lounge
- Art Center
- drinking fountain upstairs in north restroom corridor
- drinking fountain upstairs in south office corridor
- Rec Center
- drinking fountain outside boys'/men's room
- drinking fountain outside girls'/ladies' room
- Swimming Pool: drinking fountain at front desk
The content of this page was reviewed in January 2012.
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