Elementary students in the South Butler County School District will be washing their hands with cold water until officials rectify the district's water problems.

A letter was sent to parents Wednesday that reported the discovery of unacceptable levels of lead in five of the 27 water fountains in the district during required annual testing.

The five fountains are in the primary center and intermediate elementary schools.

David Foley, superintendent, stressed that none of the fountains have been open for use by students or staff because of the coronavirus pandemic.

He said a safety grant from the state Commission on Crime and Delinquency meant to be used for pandemic challenges has allowed the district to order 45 water coolers and water bottle refilling stations to replace older fountains in the district's buildings.

The water system will be flushed, and the water retested at the two schools before the stations are placed into operation, Foley said in the letter.

In an abundance of caution and because the Fox Chapel School District detected Legionella bacteria in its water system, Foley also decided to test the water in the district's hot water tanks.

Mike Kopar of Intertek PSI notified Foley on Wednesday afternoon that Legionella, which can cause Legionnaires' disease, was detected in the tanks at the primary and intermediate elementary schools.

Kopar reported that while the level of Legionella in the tanks at the two schools was within standards for the Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration, he wanted the levels to be at zero.

Legionella is a bacteria that thrives in warm water, the letter said.

“Stagnant water can cause conditions that increase the risk for Legionella,” Foley said in the letter. “It is likely that our buildings sitting empty for these months due to COVID have allowed this to develop.”

Kopar recommended the district use the “thermal shock” method of mitigating the bacteria by heating water in the tanks to 165 degrees or higher, which kills Legionella.

District buildings and grounds officials performed the thermal shock on the tanks Wednesday evening, drained and refilled them, and heated the water to the same high temperature.

Intertek experts tested the water again Thursday to ensure the bacteria had been killed.

Hot water is shut off to the hand-washing stations in the two schools until those results are returned.

Students at the primary and intermediate elementary schools will wash their hands in cold water and be provided sanitizer until those results are returned in seven to 10 days, Foley said.

“We are hopeful that these precautions will not last long, and the water system will quickly be fully operational,” Foley said.

Elementary students have been bringing their drinking water from home since the start of school Aug. 31.

Foley said he would keep parents apprised of the water situation in the coming days.