BY PAT FARNELLI
The Elk Lake School District issued notices Dec. 11 to parents of elementary school students warning that routine monitoring of the school’s water showed the presence of coliform bacteria in three of the four samples taken that day.
The school was instructed to disinfect the drinking water supply by “shock chlorinating’ the primary school well, purging the chlorine, then collecting a follow-up sample to determine compliance.
The coliform bacteria, while generally not harmful, are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful, bacteria may be present, according to the notice sent out by the district.
“Coliforms were found in more samples than allowed and this was a warning of potential problems,” the notice read. “Usually, coliforms are a sign that there could be a problem with the system’s treatment or distribution system (pipes).”
According to elementary principal Ken Cuomo, there was no further evidence of any bacteria in subsequent testing and that the problem had been resolved.
Water coolers had been made available by the district to replace drinking fountains in the elementary school.
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