Officials with Caldwell County Public Schools have announced that all schools will operate as normal Friday after the Department of Public Health determined that it is safe for students and staff to return after a contamination issue was found in the premise plumbing at the elementary school, which has been resolved.
Officials with Princeton Water & Wastewater announced on social media Thursday evening that the Princeton Water and Sewer Commission was notified of the issue on March 22. They said the contaminant was identified as propylene glycol. Officials also stated the situation has been resolved and there is no further risk of contamination.
School officials stated in a release that the Department of Public Health has determined that it is safe for students and staff to return to Caldwell County Elementary School on Friday. They said hand washing stations and bottled water will be available for all students and staff, and bottled water also will be used to prepare all meals at the elementary school on Friday.
School officials also shared information that health officials said though this contaminant was present in diluted amounts in the school water system on March 22, it was mainly pushed through the hot water system and did not expose students or staff to any concerning amounts through drinking water or hand-washing activities.
Out of an abundance of caution, health officials said local and state officials are working together to ensure the water at the elementary school is safe for use and consumption by doing the following:
Flushing the plumbing in the school;
Sampling the water within the school and surrounding areas to ensure there are no additional or ongoing impacts at the school and to ensure there are no impacts to the water system beyond the school;
And, closing the school until local and state officials can confirm via lab results, the contamination issue has been abated.
At this time, health officials said the contamination is not believed to extend beyond the plumbing within the school but measures are being taken to ensure the water is safe to use and drink.
According to Princeton Water and Wastewater, propylene glycol is a synthetic liquid substance that absorbs water. Propylene glycol is also used to make polyester compounds, and as a base for deicing solutions. Propylene glycol is used by the chemical, food, and pharmaceutical industries as an antifreeze when leakage might lead to contact with food. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified propylene glycol as an additive that is “generally recognized as safe” for use in food. It is used to absorb extra water and maintain moisture in certain medicines, cosmetics, or food products. It is a solvent for food colors and flavors, and in the paint and plastics industries. Propylene glycol is also used to create artificial smoke or fog used in fire-fighting training and in theatrical productions. Other names for propylene glycol are 1,2-dihydroxypropane, 1,2-propanediol, methyl glycol, and trimethyl glycol.
