By Dennis Box, The Courier-Herald
Bonney Lake Elementary School ran into a discolored water problem last week bringing the district a flurry of calls from concerned parents.
Sumner School District Deputy Superintendent William Noland ordered bottled water to be made available in each classroom and stated the Tacoma/Pierce County Health Board would test the water over the winter break.
The district also intends to work with the city to verify the water coming into the school is clear.
The problem with the water also came up last year and the district stated the water was tested by the Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department.
"The Health Department at that time said it was rust particulates," said Ann Cook, district spokesperson for the Sumner School District. "Their recommendations were to flush the system. The water was tested and it is safe and it cleared after flushing."
The district suspects the problem is with the 44-year-old galvanized pipes in the building.
"Our custodian will begin flushing the system weekly," Cook said. "Then we will sit down and look at the results of the test and if it is a clarity issue we will increase the flushing."
Noland sent home a letter with the students and also out via e-mail explaining the plan of action:
"As of today, we will purge the plumbing system at the beginning of each week and monitor the results. If water clarity does not improve, the frequency may increase to a daily flushing of the system. When Bonney Lake Elementary is due for its next remodel, the plumbing infrastructure will be upgraded.
"We are working with city officials to verify that water supplied to the school is clear and not discolored before entering the building plumbing system. Additional water testing will be conducted over mid-winter break to make certain that new test results are consistent with the good results from prior water tests.
"Following midwinter break we will update you on the testing results.
"Until we receive updated information and test results, bottled water and paper cups have been delivered to each classroom for student use."
Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@courierherald.com.
