Midvale Middle School water contaminated; district supplies bottled water

Salt Lake Valley Health Department officials found high levels of bacteria throughout Midvale Middle School’s water system, Nov. 21, during a bacterial test. As of Dec. 1, the 800 students had been using bottled water for several days.

“The water samples showed high levels of bacteria, so we immediately notified the school to provide alternate drinking water,” said Teresa Gray, Salt Lake Valley Health Department bureau manager for water quality and hazardous waste. “We confirmed it was not coliform.”

After flushing the pipes with a chlorine mixture Thanksgiving weekend, two additional tests were taken. The Nov. 30 preliminary test showed the water was clean and a second test, Dec. 1, showed the water was uncontaminated. With that confirmed, the school made water available to students.

Canyons School District spokeswoman Jennifer Toomer-Cook said the district delivered 900 water bottles every day while the water was contaminated. Food service workers served pre-made entrees, such as pizza and sandwiches, as well as milk. A temporary hand-washing station was set up for the staff.

Students were able to use the bathrooms and wash their hands, but as a safety precaution, hand sanitizer was provided for after hand washing, Gray said.

“It’s not a health department requirement, but the school system is being pro-active to ensure the safety of the students,” she said. She said there are no reported cases of illness related to the water contamination.

Gray believes the contamination began when construction crews were setting up the water system for the new Midvale Elementary School, adjacent to Midvale Middle School.

On Nov. 10, during a routine water inspection, high levels of bacteria were only found in the drinking water near the school swimming pool. A second sample was taken, but nothing unusual was found, Gray said. The Nov. 21 high bacteria count result prompted action at the school.

Midvale Middle School Assistant Principal Kelly Tauteoli announced the water wasn’t drinkable on the intercom.

“It was a little bit of a scramble the first day, but everything has gone pretty smoothly,” she said.

An automated call to parents alerted them to the water contamination and the changes with bottled water and meals.

“The biggest inconvenience for my daughter (eighth-grader Grace) is that they aren’t cooking in their FACS (family and consumer science) class,” parent Tami Weaver said. “It’s surprising how long it’s taking, but the district is doing a good job of providing them bottled water and hand sanitizer, and keeping them in school.”

School officials say affected classes are using alternate lesson plans.

The swimming pool was sterilized, Gray said. Hillcrest High swim team, which usually practices there, has not held practices and canceled their Nov. 22 meet, Hillcrest High Principal Susan Malone said. Their Nov. 29 meet was moved to the Park Center pool in Murray.

Ninth-grader Nicholas Cockrell said that students understand the issue.

“It’s more of an annoyance than anything,” he said. “We know that it could be harmful and they’re just taking precautions to ensure our safety.”

Canyons School District Director of School Performance Tamra S. Baker praised school officials.

“The staff and administration at Midvale Middle School quickly assessed what needed to be done to support the students and did it,” she said. “They received high levels of district support to make sure they had everything they needed to keep the students safe and fed.”

Midvale Middle School was built in 1955.