Update on well water system
April 20, 2022
Dear families,
In response to questions from our community, I wanted to explain how water quality is monitored in schools on well water, like Rockton. Please note that the interruption of our water supply yesterday did not involve adverse water quality results.
We are also currently planning to rebuild the septic bed. This work will take place when weather permits. Currently, all waste is contained within a holding tank and transferred offsite by truck. There is no impact to water quality.
For all HWDSB well water schools, the Board follows the requirements of Reg 170/03: Drinking Water Systems. This regulation outlines the requirements for daily checks, monthly, quarterly and 60-month well water sampling and reporting, as well as corrective action required for adverse observations and sample results.
At Rockton, water enters the school from the well and goes through a series of steps to ensure the safety and quality including water softener (removes minerals), filtration (filters out sediments and parasites), UV Reactors (UV-C energy removes or inactivates pathogens like viruses, bacteria, and protozoa).
A trained operator monitors the well water system every day to ensure that a variety of safety checks are completed as required, including for turbidity and UV functioning. Well water sampling continues to occur in accordance with Reg 170/03.
Each month we are required to take microbiological samples, which are analyzed for both E.coli and total coliforms. Microbiological samples are taken from raw (untreated) water from the well and treated water (after the water has gone through the water softener, filters and UV system). Our last microbiological samples were taken on April 13, 2022, and E.coli and total coliforms were not present in the raw and treated water samples.
To learn more, please also see the attached Well Water FAQ. If you have any questions, please reach out.
Sincerely,
Susan Jackson Bosher
Principal
Updated on Wednesday, April 20, 2022.