McMaster students face bug infestation, tainted water at downtown residence

Students living at McMaster University’s new graduate residence are describing bleak conditions with a bacterial contamination being confirmed in the building’s water supply and are demanding action from the school.

A series of concerns have been flagged by residents. From water contamination, to bug infestation and electrical outages, students say the state of the building has loomed over them in the entire duration of their stay thus far.

It has all culminated in a myriad of health issues, including rashes and stomach issues, that students say have been directly caused by the milky-white water currently running through the building.

Mehdi Saleh is an international student from Iran who says his health took a hit as soon as he moved into the residence.

“I feel like I’m living in a prison,” said Saleh. “I had rashes all over my body. In some periods, fever.”

McMaster has now confirmed the presence of coliform in the water supply. The university has distributed bottled water and claims that health authorities indicate that it is highly unlikely to cause illness.

READ MORE: Councillor says Ontario didn’t do ‘adequate consultation’ with Hamilton on housing development plans

“I am not feeling safe and secure in my home and that has made me feel fragmented… I feel angry, I feel stressed, I feel anxiety. Last week I was really feeling depressed.” said another student living in the building.

The lower floors were opened for students to move into earlier this fall as the semester began despite ongoing construction on the upper floors and amenities.

In a statement shared with CHCH News, a spokesperson for McMaster said in part, “We know how challenging it is for students to find safe and academically supportive housing. Tenants were advised in advance that they were moving into a building where construction was still taking place.”

Students have rallied together, establishing the newly formed CUPE 3906 Tenant Solidarity Working Group at 10 Bay.

The group has penned an open letter to the university listing their demands for action. These include a 75 per cent rent refund for the months of November and December, along with a 60 per cent rent reduction until construction is complete.

The university has told media that residents will be offered a 50 per cent refund for the month of September and 25 per cent for October, November and December.

WATCH MORE: Mohawk College, CityHousing Hamilton partner in affordable housing initiative

However, the working group says that McMaster officials have not reached out to them directly as of this afternoon.

“We don’t think it is appropriate for our employer, our educator and our landlord to use the media as a third party sort of communication medium,” said Elliot Goodell Ugalde, one of the group’s co-chairs.

“Further, none of the demands have been met, not all of them are fiscal, some of them are practical in regards to health and safety.”

The Vice President of Planning and Construction of the private developer behind the building, Knightstone Capital Management Inc., said he reaffirms the information that has been provided by McMaster.

With an ongoing lack of clarity about next steps, it’s uncertain exactly how long students will continue to live in unsafe conditions.