By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Discolored water in a drinking fountain at Kenwood Elementary School has resulted in the school being closed Wednesday.
Bowling Green Superintendent Francis Scruci said this afternoon that the water fountains were all shut off after greenish colored water was noticed.
City utility workers were called, tested the water, and found no bacteria in it, Scruci said. As a precautionary measure, a water testing company was called, but was unable to get to the school today.
“We have the company coming tomorrow to ensure that the water is without question safe,” Scruci said.
Boiler technicians and plumbers are also working on the issue to identify and correct the original cause for the discoloration, he added.
Because the water was clear on Monday, it is believed the problem was caused by a boiler backflow valve malfunction.
“We believe that we know the cause of the problem but until we are 100 percent certain that the water in the building is safe, we cannot put students and staff at potential risk,” Scruci wrote in an email to parents.
Scruci is hopeful the school will be open again on Thursday. But that will only take place if he can be assured the water is safe for students and staff to drink, he said.
“If they can’t guarantee me tomorrow that the water is safe, I will cancel school again,” Scruci said.
Since the school district did not use all its snow calamity days during the mild winter, the elementary has some “wiggle room,” he said.
