SD27 needs to fix issue of lead in Columneetza’s water system: resident

A Williams Lake resident says it is unacceptable that months after lead was discovered in the water at Columneetza campus, the taps cannot be used in the home economics room.

Fred Stafford, whose spouse teaches at the school, says the issue was discovered during the spring and although a filter was placed on the drinking fountains, nothing was done about the home economics classroom.

He says he continues to try to create dialogue with the School District 27, following a September 26th Board of Education meeting to give them a chance to rectify it, but it seems to be taking a long period of time for anything to take place.

“I’m wondering how many people would put up with having to use bottled water in their house to do their cooking with and everything when they still have water in the taps.”

Stafford says although they have made suggestions to SD27, nothing has been done.

“They said that they would be formulating a plan to deal with it and would hope to have that plan finalized before the end of June so that the work could be done over the summer break to rectify the problem. When my wife was back in the school at the end of August, and I realize there were the fires which would complicate things for them doing the work, she checked to see if there was a plan in place and we were told that there was no plan in place for it, nothing had taken place.”

Stafford says at that point, they had suggested a couple of possible fixes for the situation, including one to place a filter onto the system as it comes into the foods wing.

He believes this would allow all water coming in would be filtered, as well as possibly putting smaller filters under each sink.

“We were told those were not viable alternatives and not given a reason why which I find rather surprising if they can do that on the water stations in the school but they can’t do it in a foods room for the sinks. It really makes you wonder how safe really are the water stations.”

SD27 said while they cannot comment on personnel matters, safe water continues to be provided and that a funding application has been put in to the BC government to have the pipes replaced.