On February 23rd, the City of Healdsburg was made aware of a recent letter sent out by the Superintendent of the Healdsburg Unified School District regarding water quality issues that exist at Healdsburg Elementary School (HES). HES had their water tested and the results came back showing increased levels of turbidity (cloudiness), manganese, iron and lead which they believe is the result of an aging plumbing system in the HES main building.
The City of Healdsburg maintains a well-managed water system. Effective testing and treatments are in place to ensure that our City’s water is safe. Additionally, the City actively treats the City’s water to prevent corrosion. The City’s Lead and Copper Testing and Monitoring program consists of sampling and testing the City’s water, following both State and EPA guidelines. In addition to meeting State and EPA standards, the City takes additional measures by sampling and testing our valued resource twice a week to ensure the water is healthy and safe.
In addition, the City samples source water going in to the school from a sample site twice a week in front of HES testing for chlorine residual, turbidity (cloudiness) and once a week for coliform (a bacterial test). These tests consistently show that the source water is clean and safe. Because the water going in to HES consistently tests clean, the City Concurs that the water quality issue at HES is a localized plumbing issue.
The City is taking extraordinary precautions regarding the water quality issues at HES and has taken several additional water samples, including a sample site located in front of HES, to verify that the water in the City’s system is healthy and safe.
Full details of the City’s most recent Water Quality Report are available online at http://cityofhealdsburg.org/420/Water. Printed copies are also available
For more information please contact Terry Crowley, tcrowley@ci.healdsburg.ca.us or 707.431.3346.