Nouse.co.uk » University lake fountain out of action until health and safety fears are tackled

University lake fountain out of action until health and safety fears are tackled

November 7, 2005
Ben Toone

HEALTH FEARS HAVE resulted in the lake fountain being turned off due to the spray streaming onto passing staff and students. It will remain off until the problem has been resolved.

The spray has swamped campus walkways on windy days for years, hitting those moving between physics and central hall. The University have received numerous complaints from locals and staff, leading to the present action taken by estate services.

The spraying of lake water is particularly problematic due to the state of the lake, which has had severe problems with smell and, in previous years, algal blooms of toxic cyanobacteria. Since the last major bloom in 1995 efforts have been made to control algae via introducing plants and hay bales. Students are strongly advised not to swim in the lake and to consult a doctor immediately if lake water is inhaled due to the risk of other waterborne infection such as Weil’s disease.

University engineering maintains that it is due to annoyance to passers by rather than any inherent health risks. Len Brindley, the University Engineer, said: “During high winds, the spray from the ornamental fountain tends to drift across the building facades and pedestrian routes on the mid-section of the lake. In response to a number complaints … a decision to key-off the fountain has been taken”
“Estates Services are investigating the options for changing the direction and formation of the existing fountain nozzles in order to contain the spray within the Lake surface and reduce the carry-over of the water aerosol onto the adjacent areas.”

This will be the latest in a serious of previous alterations to the fountain, with past engineering to lower the height of the jets.

Students’ reaction is generally pleased with the switch off. “I think the spray was really annoying”, said Ashley So, 3rd year economist, “but on the other hand could switching off the fountain have a negative impact on life in the lake”.

Fourth year Biologist, Matilda Crumpton Taylor, agreed: “I’m not really aware of the biological consequences but it’d be nice not to have it spraying.”

Once the largest lined man-made water body in Europe, the University is famous for its lake and its elaborate water feature. The lake has been the focus of campus folklore ever since its inception during the 1960s with stories abound of a hidden mini cooper and a mutant catfish amongst the most bizarre, as well as RAG’s “mock battle of Trafalgar’’ in 1974, in which RAG paid the costs to the University for the dredging and lake clean up due to the large amount of soot, oil and paint bombs involved.