Update: Precautionary boil water advisory lifted for Read Fieldhouse

Contact: Erin Flynn

Update: The precautionary boil water advisory issued for Read Fieldhouse has been lifted. The city of Kalamazoo lifted the advisory Saturday, Feb. 22, at 10:45 a.m. Those in the fieldhouse can now use water for consumption as well as all other purposes. Bacteriological sampling within the affected area verified the water is safe to drink.

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Update: Water service has been restored at Read Fieldhouse. A precautionary boil water advisory remains in effect pending water testing results, which are expected Saturday. Road patch work is complete, and South Hayes Drive has been reopened to traffic.

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Update: The city of Kalamazoo has issued a precautionary boil water advisory affecting Read Fieldhouse in connection with a water main leak on South Hayes Drive and subsequent repair. No other buildings on campus are affected. Bottled water is available in the building. Water fountains  in the fieldhouse will not be accessible for use during the advisory period.

Officials expect the advisory to be lifted with 72 hours, following lab testing of water samples.

The city's advisory is precautionary only; there have not been any confirmed tests showing bacteria present in the water main at the location of the repair. Initial sampling results will be available within 24 hours of collection and the final set will be available within 48 hours.

Municipal water customers in the affected area may use bottled water for consumptive purposes or boil their tap water for 2 minutes prior to use for drinking or other ingestion, according to the city’s notification.  No special precautionary measures are necessary for water used for personal hygiene.

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KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Repairs to a broken water main will lead to a road closure on campus. The southeast portion of South Hayes Drive and surrounding sidewalks will be closed beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 20. South Dormitory Road will be open to two-way traffic during the closure to accommodate anyone who needs access to the area.

There will be no access to water in Read Fieldhouse while crews are repairing the water main. During that time, restrooms will be available in the Student Recreation Center. A boil water advisory will be in place once service is restored to the building. Facilities management will provide bottled water to building occupants during the shutdown and advisory period.

The road will be back-filled with gravel and reopened once repairs are complete. Permanent repairs to the asphalt will be done in the spring.

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