Head O’ Meadow School Water Quality Being Checked

By Tanjua Damon

Unfortunately, at least for the first week of school at Head O’ Meadow, there will not be any drinking water because coliform bacteria was found in early August after a test was conducted on the well.

According to Dominick Posca, Newtown Schools Buildings and Grounds Supervisor, it is not a major problem, but the school community at Head O’ Meadow can not drink from the fountains until another test is conducted to see if the problem has cleared up. Bottled water is being provided at the school.

“We found coliform in the well about a week and a half ago,” Mr Posca said. “It is being treated with chlorine. We will be checking it again later this week.”

If the test comes back clear, then students and staff will be able to drink from the water fountains at school again. If it doesn’t, the school community will have to continue with the bottled water.

Mr Posca couldn’t say what the exact cause of the bacteria was in the well.

“It’s hard to say. I don’t know where the contaminant came from,” he said.  “It could be from sitting or something different. It’s not a major thing.”

The same problem occurred last year at Sandy Hook School, according to Mr Posca. It went on for a few months even though the well caps were on tight at the school.

Middle Gate School is also using bottled water for now because of a broken line under ground, Mr Posca said. New pipes had to be put in from the well house to the building.

Water should be restored to the school in another week, according to Mr Posca.