CHERRY TWP — At its meeting Monday night, the Moniteau school board approved $79,139 for Book and Proch Well Drilling Inc. of New Castle to design and build a new water treatment system for Moniteau High School.

Jeff Campbell, director of buildings and grounds for the district, said the current equipment is no longer working at full capacity and necessary parts to repair the aging water treatment system are not available.

Campbell said the district was meeting already with the state Department of Environmental Protection to develop an action plan for removing iron and disinfection byproducts of chlorine from the water.

“We want to take the iron out without using as much chlorine,” Campbell said.

He said the district has safe water and does not have issues with bacteria, volatile organic compounds, PCBs, lead or copper in the water.

Campbell said each school's water is tested daily. Results of water testing are available at www.moniteau.k12.pa.us and posted at the school.

“We are getting good results now, but we want to be proactive. Our objective is to provide the best quality water we can provide for the district,” Campbell said.