Mendon Upton Regional School District Superintendent Dr. Joseph P. Maruszczak issued an email to all Miscoe Hill Parent/Guradian’s tonight regarding a recent finding of slightly elevated manganese levels in the schools drinking water.
According to the email the Mass Department of Environment Protection has started a new program to identify manganese levels in public drinking water.
Manganese is a common naturally‐occurring mineral found in rocks, soil, groundwater, and surface water. It is a natural component of most foods and is necessary for proper nutrition. At elevated levels, manganese could produce neurological effects with some variation in sensitivity between individuals. (source MassDEP Fact Sheet)
Dr. Maruszczak wrote in the email, “Our administration has just learned that samples from the drinking water has an average of .33 mg/L (milligrams per liter of water) manganese levels, a level that slightly exceeds the MassDEP Guidance Level for manganese in drinking water. The administration takes these results seriously and is taking action to lower the levels and is informing students, parents of students, faculty, and staff about this situation.”
Being exposed to levels higher than recommended by the MassDEP does not imply health problems will occur. As a precaution, the general population should consider limiting their consumption of drinking water with high levels of manganese to decrease their exposures and to decrease the possibility of adverse neurological effects. (source MassDEP Fact Sheet)
Dr. Maruszaczak wrote, “Because these recommended limits were developed for members of the general population who are assumed to consume all of their water from the same source, applying these recommendations to a student or worker in a school, who typically only drinks a portion of his/her water from the school water supply, is a precautionary approach.”
The district is taking the following steps to address the issue of manganese in the water:
- Providing bottled water at designated locations. As of tomorrow (10/22), the drinking water fountains will be shut off and in their place there will be Poland Spring water coolers. They will also be placed in the cafeteria. Only bottled water will be used for food preparation.
- Developing a treatment plan to lower the manganese levels as quickly as possible. In all likelihood, this will involve the construction of a filtration system, much like we have at H.P. Clough Elementary School. The plan will be submitted to MassDEP for review and approval prior to implementation.
- Will keep parents/guardians informed of actions that will be taken to minimize exposures to manganese in the drinking water through specific correspondence such as this letter and posting of notices.
Parents area advised to contact Ken Choiniere, MURSD Director of Grounds and Maintenance, at 508-529-2147 with any questions. Parents/guardians should contact their health care provider with any health related questions.
UPTON DAILY 