Brick School Water Report to be Examined

A report on the quality of the drinking water in five Brick Township schools came in Thursday and will be examined to determine what type of action should be taken.

The district was notified in December by an environmental testing contractor that the lead levels at five schools exceeded regulations. Preliminary findings did not suggest an immediate health hazard to the building occupants, however, the district said at the time.

The schools affected are: Drum Point Elementary School; Brick Township High School; Emma Havens Young Elementary School; Lake Riviera Middle School; Osbornville Elementary School.

Superintendent Dr. Walter Uszenski said a report on more in-depth testing performed at the schools over the Christmas break came in Thursday and will be examined by experts to determine what should be done to remediate the water systems.

Uszenski said now that the highly-technical reports are in, school officials will meet with the state Department of Environmental Protection, the Ocean County Health Department and the Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority.

"We want the experts to come out and all sit together in a room with us so the board can make the right decisions," said Uszenski.

In the mean time, drinking water will continue to be supplied to students through water coolers placed in each of the five schools. Purell hand sanitizer has also been given to students in those schools.

Uszenski said water supplies have remained adequate, and students can obtain water from the water coolers when they need it.

Some parents became concerned, he said, when a group of students sold bottled water as a charitable fundraiser. The parents presumably thought the schools were charging for water, which was not true.

"We have the water in place, and we are giving out plenty of water," said Uszenski. "We have been on top of it, and at no time did we ever put anyone in harm's way."