Posted on: Friday, May 3, 2002

School's water tested for impurities

By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Central O'ahu Writer

WAIPAHU — State health officials hope to receive test results today explaining how water running to a Waipahu Intermediate School classroom became tainted with a mysterious milky substance.

The situation has prompted school officials to bring in bottled water for the campus' 1,250 students and 100 staffers until the tap water is deemed safe to drink. No illnesses have been reported from the incident.

School Principal Edward Oshiro said a teacher late last week reported milky-colored water coming from the faucet in her storeroom in classroom building J.

"The water had a murky, off-color look to it," Oshiro said. "The good thing is the water came from a storeroom where the kids don't drink."

The incident was reported to the Department of Education's Safety and Security Services, which brought out officials from the state Departments of Health, and Accounting and General Services to inspect the site.

Pipes that send water to two classroom buildings were shut down on Monday. School officials on Tuesday decided to provide water from an outside source for the entire school as a precaution.

State Health Department spokeswoman Janice Okubo said officials believe the problem is linked to just the one classroom.

Oshiro said state crews replaced several water pipes leading to the classroom after discovering an oily substance forming around it, but could not say if that was the cause of the problem.

"We don't know if the material was seeping into the pipes; we'll have to wait and see on the test results," he said.

Meanwhile, officials have brought in 30 five-gallon containers of bottled water each day for faculty and students, costing the school about $1,000 a day. Officials sent a letter to parents informing them about the situation and said students could bring their own drinking water to school if desired. Students on campus can use the water for sanitary purposes.

"We're doing this just as a precaution," Oshiro said of the bottled water. "We'd rather be safe than sorry."

Reach Scott Ishikawa at sishikawa@honoluluadvertiser .com or 535-2429.