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Wednesday, March 26, 2008 Bacterium found in school's well, but problem has been solvedBelen A bacterium that is naturally present in the environment and generally not harmful was found in the new water well installed at Dennis Chavez Elementary in January. Of the six tests conducted on the water from the new well on Feb. 21, four came back positive for total coliform, Maintenance Supervisor Frank Ortega said. Although not listed on the agenda, Superintendent Patricia Rael said the situation was an emergency so Ortega made a report to the school board, updating them on the status of the problem and what measures have been taken to comply with standards from the environmental department. "It's not a harmful bacteria, but we have to do something before it gets worse," Ortega said. "The water has to be chlorinated, and we started doing that. We have a resource tech with us to make sure the water is safe to drink." When the report came back that coliform was present, Ortega said, they immediately contacted the principal, nurses and kitchen staff, and students were not allowed to drink from fountains or wash their hands in the sinks. "We brought in bottled water and hand sanitizers," Ortega said. Coliform, while generally not harmful, can be an indicator of other contaminants that can cause disease such as E. Coli; however, tests showed there was no E. Coli present in the system. Ortega said the water system has been in place since 1964 and they aren't sure what caused it, but it's possible that the old well was weak and the new well and the water pressure that came with it may be loosening up "gunk" in the galvanized pipes that have been there for more than 35 years. "We flushed the old system, and we are chlorinating it continuously, and that kills the bacteria," Ortega explained. "The first priority is to make sure the water is safe to drink. The coliform is not harmful to humans, according to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), but it's warning us bacteria is in it." Dennis Chavez School Principal Armando Reyes said as soon as they knew there was a problem the water was shut off, and within an hour, Water King delivered water and provided sanitizers. Notices were also put up at the school as required by law, and parents were notified in a letter of what was found and what was being done to remedy the situation, Ortega said. "What we did is take precautions so we had a safe environment for the kids," Ortega said. The State of New Mexico Environment Department required five more samples be submitted in February because the water system was in violation of exceeding the maximum contaminant level (MLC) for microbiological contaminants. Ortega said they would continue to use chlorination to treat the system, making it safe for the students. "I think the staff and faculty acted quickly," Rael said. In other action the board:
Parent Jerry Thompson spoke next, saying he didn't know the process involved in spending bond money but that the courts were a hazard to everyone using them and he was asking the board for a timeline for the project and that it be completed by January. Two tennis students asked for the board's consideration in building new courts, stating the existing courts have hollow spots and tennis balls don't bounce correctly. "It keeps us from playing to our full potential," one student said. They also raised their concern regarding an absence of a facility to change in, saying that football, baseball and basketball programs all have places to dress. Student Caitlin Cano asked the board to put the new tennis court project higher on the list of projects that will be funded using the $15 million bond approved by voters. "The courts are rugged and cracked and not to our standards of the class of players we have," Cano said. "Please make this go the way we want." President Jamie Goldberg thanked them for their comments and explained that money from the bond doesn't come all at once. "I've been on those courts, and they are in bad shape," he said. "I have no problem helping you get a new facility, but it takes some time to get the process going. It would be nice to get it up by next year." Board member Sam Chavez said once the field house is built it would provide a bathroom facility that could be used by the tennis team. He agreed they need to have nice shaded bleachers for spectators installed when the courts are done. "As soon as money is freed, you can count on my vote for the tennis program," he said. Board members Lola Quintana and Adrian Pino each supported the project, and Pino advised the coach and parents to get a committee together to help design what they would like to have done.
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