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.

This is an excerpt from a larger article that appears in Friday's Butler Eagle. Subscribe online or in print to read the full article.