Sep 18, 2008 2:27 pm US/Central
Arsenic Found In Water At Far West Suburban School
Big Rock Middle School Provides Bottled Water To All Students
BIG ROCK, Ill. (Aurora Beacon News) ―
Elevated arsenic levels have been found in the water supply of Hinckley-Big Rock Middle School, the Kane County Health Department reported Thursday.
Laboratory results from three separate tests found arsenic at concentrations greater than government standards for drinking water. As soon as the results became known, the district began working with the health department to address the issue, health officials said.
"The school district is providing bottled water to all students and visitors; they have covered drinking fountains in the school and are using bottled water in the kitchen for cooking," said Health Department Executive Director Paul Kuehnert. "The district is also in the process of purchasing and installing upgraded filters in order to effectively eliminate the arsenic in the drinking water. The district has done an excellent job protecting students and staff."
The three tests from Hinckley-Big Rock Middle School showed that the level of arsenic was 11 parts per billion, 15 ppb and 39 ppb. The government standard is 10 ppb.
Based on the detection of arsenic in the school water supply, the Health Department will be conducting additional testing of several non-community well sites in Big Rock -- Crossroads Church, Big Rock Mini Mart, Plow Match, Country Café, and the Hinckley Big Rock Middle School.
(CBS 2, the Naperville Sun and the Aurora Beacon-News are news partners covering stories in the western suburbs. Send story tips to tips@cbs2chicago.com. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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