ROCKFORD, Mich. (WOOD) — Rockford Public Schools is shutting down drinking water fountains in one of its schools in light of recent tests revealing a toxic chemical in nearby wells.
In a letter sent to parents Thursday morning, Superintendent Michael Shibler said the district was disabling all drinking fountains in East Rockford Middle School “out of an abundance of caution.”
In a Thursday news release, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality said there is no evidence of contamination, but the school’s drinking water wells and eight other properties adjacent to a former dump site discovered near Ramsdell Drive between 9 Mile and 10 Mile roads are being tested as a precaution.
Shibler said Wolverine Worldwide will be providing bottled water to students starting Thursday morning. The superintendent said the bottled water will also be used for cooking inside the school building until the district knows the status of its well water.
Shibler says Wolverine Worldwide and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality collected water samples from the school’s well Wednesday. He said he will notify parents as soon as the expedited test results are available, likely within two weeks.
>>Inside woodtv.com: Complete coverage of the toxic tap water investigation