Access to clean and safe drinking water is essential to public health, human well-being, and a safe learning environment. At Tulane University, students rely on drinking fountains, bottle-filling stations, residence hall plumbing, and other campus water sources every day. We deserve to know the quality of the water we drink, yet finding clear, publicly accessible information about campus drinking water testing and its results should not be a challenge.

As members of the Tulane community, we are personally invested in this issue because we believe no student should have to question the safety of the water they depend on throughout the day. Our team has experienced moments of uncertainty when filling our water bottles on campus, and we recognize that students should not have to rely on assumptions or incomplete information when making decisions about their health. We are not claiming that Tulane's water is unsafe. We are calling for greater transparency, stronger preventive measures, and reliable information that allows every student to make informed decisions.

We urge Tulane University to establish or strengthen a comprehensive, recurring drinking water quality testing and reporting program. If the university already conducts water quality testing, we ask that existing results, testing schedules, sampling locations, and relevant safety findings be made easily accessible to students, faculty, and staff. We also call for additional independent testing where appropriate to assess potential gaps in current monitoring, particularly at high-use drinking fountains, bottle-filling stations, and residence halls. Testing should be guided by qualified environmental health professionals, use appropriate laboratory methods, and assess relevant contaminants based on public health guidance and site-specific risks.

Testing alone is not enough. We ask Tulane to create a centralized, publicly accessible platform where the university community can review water quality results, understand what was tested and when, and learn how results compare with applicable health standards. When results identify a concern, the university should communicate promptly, explain the steps being taken, and provide clear guidance and appropriate alternative drinking water access when necessary. Students should also have a straightforward way to report concerns and receive updates on their resolution.

Water quality is a public health issue that deserves proactive attention. Certain contaminants, including lead and disease-causing microorganisms, can pose serious health risks depending on the level and duration of exposure. Regular, scientifically sound monitoring can help identify potential problems, guide appropriate interventions, and strengthen confidence in the systems students rely on every day. In a university committed to academic excellence, research, and community well-being, water safety should be supported by evidence, accountability, and open communication.

Through our HEF Public Health Project, Clean Water on Campus: Protecting Student Health Through Access, Awareness, and Prevention, we aim to bring students and university leadership together around a practical, evidence-based solution. We believe that protecting student health requires more than responding to problems after they arise. It requires a commitment to prevention, accessible information, and continuous evaluation of essential campus resources.

We call on Tulane University to commit to regular drinking water quality testing, transparent publication of results, additional testing where needed, and equitable access to safe drinking water across campus. We respectfully ask university leadership to review existing testing practices, identify opportunities for improvement, and work with students and qualified experts to develop a clear plan for implementation and ongoing accountability.

Safe drinking water should never be a matter of uncertainty. Every student deserves access to reliable information about the water they drink, and every member of our university community deserves to have their health taken seriously.

Sign this petition to support stronger water quality monitoring, greater transparency, and safe drinking water access for all at Tulane University. Together, we can advocate for a healthier, safer, and more accountable campus.