The South Butler County School District is stuck between a rock and a hard place with the water situation at its schools.

The good news is the district is addressing the unacceptable lead levels in five of the 27 water fountains in the primary center and intermediate elementary school as well as Legionella in its hot water tanks.

The bad news is that to do so, the district is temporarily removing an important defense for its students against COVID-19: hot water.

Last week, the district notified parents of the discovery of the lead levels during required annual testing. They were likely glad to hear from the district’s superintendent that none of the fountains were being used by students due to the pandemic.

A safety grant has allowed the district to order 45 water coolers and water bottle refilling stations to replace older fountains, but before they are installed, the system will be flushed and the water retested.

The district was right to follow the mantra “better safe than sorry” and test its hot water tanks. That was a good decision because Legionella bacteria was detected at the primary and intermediate elementary schools.

Although the Legionella level was within safe standards, the district decided to get the level to zero. Smart move.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that exposure to even low levels of lead is dangerous for children, leading to nervous system damage, behavioral problems, learning disabilities, slower growth and impairment to hearing or function of blood cells.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that Legionella bacteria can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a serious type of lung pneumonia.

The district has addressed the Legionella in the hot water tanks through a method known as thermal shock. It has drained, refilled and tested the water.

However, hot water will be turned off at the schools’ hand-washing stations until test results are returned. Although this is understandable, it’s unfortunate.

The CDC advises the safest way to combat COVID-19 is frequently washing one’s hands with soap and hot water for 20 seconds. We are currently in a precarious moment when we’ll soon find out the consequences of sending everyone back to school amid a pandemic.

Meanwhile, students can continue to wash their hands with cold water and the district will provide hand sanitizer, which is the CDC’s No. 2 COVID-19 prevention method.

We’re glad to see the district addressing its water issues, but we hope it’s able to provide hot water to its students as soon as possible.

— NCD