Agencies Respond To Contaminant In Drinking
Water Supply
A
t Hidden Oaks Middle School
WEST PALM BEACH – On the morning of
August 22, Hidden Oaks Middle School in Palm City, Martin County
detected a cross-connection between industrial icemaking equipment
and the drinking water supply. This connection briefly allowed an
unknown quantity of ethylene glycol to be siphoned into the
drinking water system. The connection was detected at
approximately 9:15 AM and the water system was immediately shut
down. Bottled water is being supplied to the students and staff.
- The public water supply is not affected, since backflow
prevention equipment isolates the Hidden Oaks Middle School’s
water supply from the rest of the system.
- The drinking water system will remain shut down until tests
show no ethylene glycol in the system. The system will be
thoroughly flushed while waiting for test results.
- The Department of Health, the Department of Environmental
Protection, Martin County Utilities, and Martin County Public
Schools are working together to protect the students and
staff.
- The ethylene glycol solution was diluted to 30% strength
when it was put into the water chilling devise, and was
further diluted by the water system. The quantity of ethylene
glycol that actually entered the water system is unknown, but
is estimated to be small based on dilutions and the duration
of the connection (estimated at 15 to 30 minutes).
- More information will be available as the samples are
analyzed.
- Any concerns regarding exposure should be directed to the
Martin County Health Department at (561) 221-4090.
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