Bringing alarming attention to what students are drinking, a new report finds that UAF water last year may have contained human waste and high levels of cancer-causing contaminants.

University utilities had issued a report earlier this year proudly declaring they had never violated water quality standards. But an amended report, mailed to students Friday, reveals that students may have drank water with possible health risks.

Unlike the first report, the new edition says utilities exceeded the allowable levels of coliform bacteria, an indicator of human and animal waste, in July 2003. The detail was left out last time due to a misunderstanding of Environmental Protection Agency regulations, according to plant operator Ben Stacy.

"My apologies to everyone," he said.

Only water at the International Arctic Research Center and the Irving Building was affected, Stacy said. The incident was partly due to construction, he said, but he declined specifics. Utilities chlorinated the water and flushed out the bad water, he said.

The water also contained two cancer-related contaminants, trihalomethane and arsenic. Trihalomethanes, drank over several years, can cause liver, kidney, or nervous system problems and also can increase the risk of cancer. UAF's water exceeded the current maximum contaminant level, 80 ppb, with 190 ppb.

Stacy noted regulations changed last year and that the level decreased from 100 ppb to 80 ppb. The levels were still too high, he said, partly due to "setbacks" that they have since overcome with better techniques.

"We're holding right now at about an average of 80," he said, though an incident earlier this year may cause it to exceed required levels. Getting the levels below federal mandates will get "down to the wire," he said.

Low levels of arsenic were also present, but were below EPA rules. University water remained below the 10 ppb maximum level with a 6.8 ppb year average, but exceeded the level in February with 10.4 ppb, according to a water analysis.

Arsenic in high doses can cause cancer, as well as skin damage and circulatory problems, but research continues on possible low-level affects. University water has remained arsenic-free for the past four months, according to Stacy.

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