New Water System offers hope

by Erin Navin ’20 and Jackie Sizing ‘21

Since 1965, the subject of poor water quality in Rindge has been unending. The water, referred to as the “Rindge Tinge,” is slightly yellow due to a high percentage of iron. Despite the many advances in enhancing the water quality over the years, the problem hasn’t changed.  Presently, it is still something students and faculty, as well as local residents, often talk about and some are bothered by. Although the water had always been safe to drink and have met water standards, there was lots of enthusiasm and conversation heard about the new water filtration system.

Doug Lear, Director of Maintanence, and his team were finally able to replace the previous water filtration system this summer and finished up at the end of August with a completely new and different type of filtration. It is going to be much more effective for the iron in our water supply, according to Lear.

“It has been incredibly disappointing that I haven’t been able to drink the tap water here these last two years.  However, I’m excited for the new filter system, and hoping it will fix the problem!” said junior Jordan Newcomb. This is a widely shared response from the students and faculty here on campus.  

The Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) on the Franklin Pierce campus advocates for students’ issues and their health overall with Health Services.  “When we surveyed to see what the main concerns were, the biggest issue was clean water,” stated senior Ryann Dorain, President of the SHAC.  This survey encouraged additional research and for students to become involved in improving this issue. 

For the water quality to be completely clear, it is going to take a little while as the underground piping throughout campus needs to be flushed to get rid of all the cumulated iron. However, they are glad to hear from residence halls on campus, they have the noticed the difference in the water quality, according to Lear.

“We are very excited about clear water and not seeing the iron and the rusty color that it has been forever here!” said Lear in his phone interview. “The Rindge area has always had this high iron content… the time had finally come to make a difference and spend the money (to) install a much better system that is going to effect the clarity of our water considerably.”