Signs have been placed on all ca pus water fountains, like the one pictured in the Union, reminding students of the boil water notice.
Photo by Vince Davis I The Daily Mississippian
The university released an update Tuesday afternoon confirming that the boil-water notice, which has been in effect since Friday, remains in effect until further notice.
The alert includes 19,556 people who receive their water from The University of Mississippi’s water supply in Lafayette County, according to a press release issued by the Mississippi State Department of Health October 25.
Officials urge anyone affected to boil water for at least one minute before consumption because water samples tested positive for the presence of total coliform bacteria.
The state health department must clear two days of tests in Jackson before the alert can be lifted.
Director of Public Relations at the University Danny Blanton hopes that tests administered by the Department of Health will clear the notice in the coming days.
“We have taken our samples down to Jackson, and they are being tested right now,” Blanton said. “The Department of Health mandates a two day waiting period before a boil water alert can be lifted; and, since we got the alert Friday, we were required to continue the notice Monday and Today. We are waiting to hear back in the next day or so.”
Students on campus continue to be affected by the notice, as drinking fountains, soda dispensers, and tap water are all unavailable for use as safe to drink.
Ole Miss Dining officials did not immediately return calls from The DM to comment on the situation, but employees in the J.D. Williams Library Starbucks indicated that hot beverages only are being sold in the location in order to comply with the boil water notice.
During a boil water notice on campus last October, dining officials said they boiled all water used to prepare food and followed necessary safety protocol while preparing and serving food to students.
Arrangements have been made by dining services and across campus to continue business as usual, according to Blanton.
“Adjustments were made in the stadium as we could not sell fountain drinks, and similar changes have been made in food services,” Blanton said.
“For example, Starbucks has been able to operate relatively unaffected. These companies have experience in this situation, and continue the service students expect to provide meals so that students do not have to go without meals or go into town to find meals.”
So far, a cause of the contamination has not been identified.
“The physical plant is looking into the potential causes, but the main thing is to make sure that we can get water potable again so we can continue with our normal operations,” Blanton said. “We are hopeful that has already been accomplished and we will get a ‘thumbs-up’ from the Department of Health and can continue life as usual.”
