Randolph County Schools addresses water safety concerns at elementary school

RANDOLPH COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) — An elementary school in rural Randolph County is working to address a problem with its drinking water before students go back to class.

High levels of PFAS, a forever chemical, were in the water at Farmer Elementary School in Randolph County. The district was alerted to the health concern at the end of June when school was not in session. Now, with one month from the start of school, there is still work to do.

Superintendent Dr. Stephen Gainey assured FOX8 that the water will be safe once staff return on Aug. 19 and for students the following week. For the past month, the district worked to find the best solution. They signed the contract, and now work can start.

“We have to get this right … There has never been any discussion about not getting it right because this is about people’s safety and their health,” Gainey said.

The contaminated well has been disconnected, and the district hired Kinetico Advanced Water Systems to help with a short-term solution.

“It is going to be a reverse osmosis process that will be applied, so we are going to start with what is called point of use, and that is a filtration system, and make it safe to use at the water fountains, sinks that are used for cooking in the cafeteria,” Gainey said.

About $59,000 from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality will fund the project, but maintenance fees will fall to the district. The school also needs a plan and funds for a long-term solution.

“We have a lot of economic development … Does this lead to a water line … to connect to Farmer Elementary? I don’t know. Those are some big decisions … Does it lead to us having to rebuild these wells?” Gainey said.

RCS have one other building on well water and immediately got it tested.

“That is Northeastern Randolph Middle School, and it has been tested since this happened, and it is safe,” Gainey said.

More than 200 students and their parents rely on FES, and the leaders across Randolph County will make sure it is ready for them.

“It has been a great example of teamwork,” Gainey said.

Once the well was disconnected. The levels went down, but the filtration to get the rest out could start as soon as Thursday.

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