ALERT: Utility/Power Failure on Campus – UPDATE

June 11, 2025 - 11:28 AM

UPDATE: Utility/Power Failure on Campus

Meadville Water Authority is just completing the the main water line repair on the north side of campus and and the water line should be pressurized shortly.

CAUTION FROM THE WATER AUTHORITY: A loss of positive water pressure is a signal of the existence of conditions that could allow contamination to enter the distribution system through back-flow by back‑pressure or back‑siphonage. As a result, there is an increased chance that the water may contain disease-causing organisms.

DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a rolling boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using; or use bottled water. You should use boiled or bottled water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth, and food preparation until further notice. Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches. These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms in drinking water, but also by other factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. Guardians of infants and young children and people at increased risk, such as pregnant women, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems, should seek advice from their health care advisors about drinking this water. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 (800) 426‑4791.

The Water Authority will inform local residents when the water is safe to drink. An updated message Emergency Message will be sent from Public Safety.

Students, faculty and staff should monitor e-mail, the college web site, social and local media for updated information and further updates.
Contact Campus Safety in the event of an emergency: 814-332-3357.

More information on Emergency website

History of Environmental Science at Allegheny

ESS History Snapshot: Program Founders

Dr. Samuel S. Harrison ’63 was a second generation graduate of Allegheny College. After obtaining his doctorate at the University of North Dakota, he returned to his alma mater and worked for many years in the Geology and Environmental Science Department in Alden Hall as a professor. He did so much more than just teach classes, however, including giving birth to the Environmental Science (Aquatic Environments) program/major in 1972-73. 

Harrison and Dr. Tom Dougan worked together to create this new major after which Dr. Dougan continued to focus on geology and Dr. Harrison focused on environmental science and geology. He poured himself into this major for over 15 years as he believed strongly and correctly it would be of great benefit to our world’s future. 

Harrison was always very proud of Allegheny and endeavored to do as much as possible to bring excellence, creativity, and relevance to his department as well as the college as a whole. Many of his former students stayed in contact with him, seeking his further advice, sharing their successes, and crediting him for their success in this field and others.