CHAGRIN FALLS — All students and staff at an elementary school in Chagrin Falls are drinking from bottled water after an alert was posted on the Ohio EPA’s website warning of possible high lead levels.
Superintendent Robert Hunt tells Fox 8 there is no indication that there is lead in the water, but they are making changes out of an abundance of caution. He added the EPA’s web posting is contradictory to what the EPA has told the school.
**Watch Hunt’s full interview in the video player above**
“I was taken back when I saw the alert online because it was contradictory to what we’ve been told,” Hunt said. “But I wanted to make sure students and staff were safe so I put these measures into place until we find out more information.”
Hunt said the school did have an issue a few months ago, but they were told in November all was clear.
The water was tested in August and September and both times the EPA found some samples may be high because of pH levels. Hunt says the issues were addressed, the water treatment equipment was upgraded, and the district was informed in November that the water was safe.
Hunt says there is an obvious discrepancy on the guidance provided and the information posted on the Ohio EPA’s website. The school contacted the EPA when they learned of the posting notification, and they tell us their representative from the organization appeared to be unaware.
The school decided to provide bottled water to students as a precaution, and they have turned off the water fountains. Water in restrooms can still be used for hand washing.
More testing took place January 22nd and January 27th. Those results will come back on February 3rd. They will keep the bottled water until the results come back.
“If the alert wasn’t posted on the website, the last communication we had with the EPA was one we did not have to continue testing, and two the water was fine moving forward,” Hunt said.
The school uses well water. Hunt, however, believes pipes in the system — and not the well itself — may have contributed to the water test results. He added that the fact that water did not run through the pipes during the summer months may have also instigated the water test results in the fall.
Other schools in district are on city water. No students have tested positive for lead.
For a warning letter sent to parents yesterday, click here.
