Indiana school waits on water’s lead test

KOKOMO, Ind. (WISH) – It could be several days before a Central Indiana school can allow its students to drink water after a positive lead test was found.

Lead is on the minds of many. Flint, Michigan is under a state of emergency because of the dangerous substance.

And now, Eastern High School officials said lead was found there, forcing the water to be turned off, and causing them to buy 2,500 bottles of water.

Tracy Caddell “Anytime you that you hear lead it creates a concern,” Eastern Howard School Corporation Superintendent Tracy Caddell said.

Caddell said after Greentown Municipal Water Company warned of lead, he moved quickly. “We did it specifically for precautionary measures,” Caddell said. “We read the article, we talked to the members of the town, and we just didn’t feel comfortable.”

On Friday, the county health department said it’s fine to swim, shower and wash with it, but not to drink or cook with it. The Indiana Department of Environment Management said the water company can put a component in its supply, to help decrease the amount of lead.

“We’re testing everywhere now, and I brought another testing company in to do secondary testing,” Caddell said. “I want make sure it’s not a false test or the samples were tested correctly.”

For parents concerned about the water, federal government reports say to check water company records. Many of them share lead tests online.

As for Eastern Howard, officials want answers from its water supplier, and said this issue has not only brought a scare, but could cost them tens of thousands of dollars. “We want to make absolutely sure our kids are safe,” Caddell said.

Indiana Department of Environmental Management officials said not all schools are required to test for lead. If the school receives it from a community water system, it can rely on the distributor doing the test.

But if it has its own source, say a well, then it must test for lead. To see a lead test report, click here.