The source was isolated at about 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening after numerous possible sites were examined. Investigators discovered that wash water used to clean paint brushes and rollers at the new $45.8 million Kinesiology and Athletics Building construction site was draining into a pipe bearing a lid mislabeled “sewer.” The lid should have read “storm water,” “surface water” or something similar.
HSU environmental officials said the latex paint is not classified by the State of California as “acutely hazardous” and no dead fish or insects have been found. City of Arcata and Humboldt County environmental health authorities were notified immediately, and the county is investigating. California Fish & Game officials examined the site May 30 and HSU also alerted the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
The flow of paint-contaminated water has been cut off and HSU is conducting its own investigation of the spill.
Carl Coffey, HSU Vice President of Administrative Affairs, said mitigation efforts are underway, the campus has insisted on an aggressive clean-up of the system and faculty experts have offered to assist as needed.