A $900,000 project to improve water quality on campus will begin in April when Binghamton University replaces its 40-year-old water softening system. The new system will be installed adjacent to the East Gym parking lot.

Karen Fennie, Physical Facilities spokeswoman, described the replacement of the current system as a “critical maintenance project.” She said these types of projects generally address older campus infrastructure and include the replacement of electrical systems, hot water lines and mechanical equipment.

BU water funnels in from the town of Vestal, and is further treated for water softening once it reaches campus.

“It comes to campus on two lines and goes to the East Gym, where the current water softener equipment is located,” she said.

According to Fennie, the system consists of three tanks which contain rock salt. The water passes through the salt, removing the minerals that cause the water to be “hard.” The water is pumped to towers on campus and then gravity-fed throughout campus.

“A small building will be constructed next to the pump house,” Fennie said. “It will house three new tanks and some storage space for salt.”

Until next November, when the project is scheduled to be completed, water will continue to be treated by the current system. Some students, however, have begun to complain that the decade-old softener is not working properly, and that campus water has been damaging their skin and hair.

Rene Coderre, assistant director of Residential Life, said he was notified two weeks ago that an on-campus student reported skin irritation due to the water. He said, however, that this case was “the only time in 20 years” during his career at BU that he heard of such a problem.

Assistant director of Residential Life for Hinman College, Kristin Calegari, also said she had not heard of any issues with campus water.

“As AD of Hinman for the past five years, I haven’t had any complaints from students about the water and its effect on skin and hair,” Calegari said.

Even if students have not been complaining to the Residential Life staff, some have been sounding off about their dislike for the quality of the water.

Hair loss and damage, as well as skin itchiness and dryness, have been among the complaints made.

Sophomore human development major and resident of Dickinson Community, Valeria Diaz, noted the damaging effects of the dorm water.

“I find that the water here makes my skin extremely dry … I never had that problem in New York City,” Diaz said.

Saintedym Wills, a sophomore biology major, also attested to her discontent with dorm water.

“The water is really hard,” Wills said. “My skin gets really dry after I take a shower, even after I put on a lot of lotion.”

Regarding her hair, Wills felt the water was just as problematic.

“I’ve experienced a lot of breaking, I mean, it could be a lot of factors, but I do believe it’s [caused by] washing my hair with this water,” she said.