April 16, 2003 – The Planning and Natural Resources Department has served the Education Department with another written notice of violation for its contaminated drinking water at Peace Corps School, DPNR Commissioner Dean Plaskett said on Wednesday.
The violation covers March, the third month in a row that the school was found to have problems with its drinking water.
"The system wasn't properly maintained," Plaskett said. He said that the bulb on the ultraviolet light that disinfects the system was burned out and the filters hadn't been changed on time.
Plaskett's announcement came on the heels of a release issued Tuesday by the Education Department stating that, according to an April 9 test, the water at Peace Corps was safe to drink.
Education spokeswoman Juel Anderson referred a request for comment on Wednesday to district schools Superintendent William Frett. Several telephone calls were made to his office throughout Wednesday afternoon, but no one answered the phone.
Plaskett said DPNR authorities will test the water again this month, at a date that will not be announced in advance. He said he did not want to tip off the Education Department as to when the testing would take place, as "they might dump a bottle of Clorox in."
While it's clear Peace Corps School's drinking water system has problems, Plaskett said, they are not sufficiently serious to warrant closing the school. The interim solution, he said, is for parents to continue sending drinking water to school with their children.
He said the water is safe for hand washing and toilet flushing.
Plaskett said he and Education officials will meet shortly to discuss the matter, including the possibility of fines for the violations.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here
