During the RSU 40 Board of Directors meeting at Medomak Valley High School in Waldoboro on Thursday, Dec. 1, district administration announced the lifting of a ban on drinking the water at MVHS, in place for more than a week.
RSU 40 Facilities and Transportation Director George Bridges told the board that water test results from the school sent to the Maine Drinking Water Program had come back clean and the drinking ban on the school’s water had been lifted as of Thursday.
“The water at the school is safe to drink,” Bridges said.
Bridges said that during the process of cleaning up a small oil leak in the boiler room, discovered Nov. 14, an aerosol cleaner was ingested into the school’s radon mitigation system, ultimately entering the school’s water supply.
Bridges said the state toxicologist who issued the drinking-water ban deemed the water was not hazardous for washing hands.
The school was closed as a precautionary measure Nov. 22, the day before Thanksgiving break was scheduled to begin.
Prior to the lifting of the ban, Bridges said work was done to get new filters for the school’s radon system and to improve ventilation in the boiler room.
MVHS Principal Andrew Cavanaugh said he appreciated Bridges’ quick response to the situation.
Cavanaugh said the school made an effort to let people know exactly what was going on surrounding the drinking water issue.
“I think the vast majority of people could see we were being open and honest in trying to get this dealt with,” Cavanaugh said.
