It has been said that certain water on the Oregon State University campus is less than stellar, and on the contrary, some water is rather excellent. But where are these places on campus? 

The temperature, taste, and other aspects of water vary between campus sources, and opinions on the best and worst of these differ greatly. It was on a warm late-fall afternoon that people voiced their opinions on this matter.

Harlie Endicott, third-year public policy student.

Harlie Endicott, a third-year public policy student, spoke on their ideas on this subject. Endicott started with their least favorite water on campus.

“I know for sure the worst water has got to be Milam, I hate it, it tastes metallicy, it’s bad.” 

“But the best is either the MU or Dixon,” she said. “You know, the sensor where it says the green filter, it’s always still green. While Strand, there’s so many red ones, or even the SEC.” 

Endicott said how the MU and Dixon water also has no aftertaste associated with it, such as the way Milam does. 

Maren Linth, first-year architectural engineering student.

Maren Linth, a first-year architectural engineering student, said that her favorite water on campus was located in Finley Hall.

“The water bottle filler in the kitchen,” Linth said. “​It just has a clean, fresh taste, and it’s nice and cold all the time.”

Luke Suckling, first-year business administration student.

Luke Suckling, a first-year business administration student, said that their favorite water on campus was located at the International Living Learning Center (ILLC).

“By the front door, on the roadside, closest to the Gill side,” Suckling said. “I don’t know. I think it’s just the quality of the water. The filter is always green. It always just tastes fresh…reminds me of home.”

Suckling said that some areas don’t taste as good: “Sometimes you can get a bottle of water from a fountain, that’s maybe a little bit like irony, you know.”

Aayusha Subedi and Jasmin Lama, both first-year biochemistry and biophysics students

Aayusha Subedi and Jasmin Lama, both first-year biochemistry and biophysics students, were walking together when they answered questions about their preferences for campus water. 

Subedi started with her opinions on the worst water: “Definitely the first floor of the LINC, the water station between the bathrooms.” 

Subedi then said some of the things that made it the worst for her: “It’s not cold. It kind of has a weird, moldy taste to it.  When you fill your water bottle, you can smell it, and it mixes up the bathroom air, so it’s just not a good combination.”

Jasmin Lama chimed in by agreeing with her friend about the first floor of the LINC being the worst campus water. But Lama noted the water on the third floor of the LINC that she had tried earlier that day.

“It doesn’t smell, and it’s cold. I don’t know if I was just really thirsty at the time, but I enjoyed the water.”

Cody Warren, third-year nuclear engineering student. 

When Cody Warren, a third-year nuclear engineering student, was asked about his favorite campus water, he said the water bottle filler at Peavy Forest Science Center was his favorite.

“It has insane water pressure, it fills up in like three seconds. I love it.”

Ben Kogot, first-year chemical engineering student.

When Ben Kogot, a first-year chemical engineering student, was asked about campus water, he had an easy answer on his mind.

“By far. It’s at Dixon, right next to gym two. They have the best water fountain. It’s amazing,” Kogot said. “It’s just easy to drink, it flows.”

Malea Wiener, first-year oceanography student.

After Malea Wiener, a first-year oceanography student, was asked about her favorite water on campus, she said she did not personally have an opinion on the question. But Wiener did say that she had heard from a couple of people that the CEOAS building has the best water.

“Tastes the least like chlorine,” she said about what she was told. 

Hope Prothero, first-year psychology student.

When Hope Prothero, a first-year psychology student, was asked about the best water on campus, she noted that the only water she typically notices is the plastic water dispensers in West Dining Hall. She explained that she liked that there is always a lot of water there.