Manganese In MHS Water At Very High Levels, Bottled Water Use to Continue

Schools Superintendent Pamela Aubin told the Montville Board of Education Tuesday night, in response to a resident question, that the despite instituting a filtration system, the manganese levels in the water at Montville High School remain at high levels.

She said the district has met with the state Department of Public Health after "not seeing the manganese levels reduced." She said the district "may be a test case for the rest of the state" because of the "very high levels" of the mineral. 

The school has been using bottled water for drinking and cooking since the substance was first discovered in September. 

Mineral substance discovered

In a letter to high school staff and families dated Monday Sept. 24, Aubin said she was informed a "small amount of a mineral-like substance" was discovered in the water at the high school. Aubin said she immediately contacted the Uncas Health District and ordered testing of the water. A few weeks later, test results came back and the previously unknown substance was identified as manganese.

Aubin said on Oct. 12 the results showed an “elevated level” of the naturally occurring mineral, but  she added that there are “no enforceable federal drinking water standards,” for manganese. But the Connecticut Department of Public Health does and has established a “action level to provide a margin of safety.”

Aubin explained then that it was her understanding the water was safe for cooking. That has since changed. 

Aubin said she just learned that the district must now use bottled water for preparing and cooking food but not for dish washing.

Aubin said school director of facilities Matthew Bialowas is working with the Uncas Health District, the state health department and the district’s water management company LaFramboise Water Services to correct the contamination issue.

Is manganese dangerous?

This easy to read report from the Connecticut Department of Public Health explains the concerns. Bottom line: At unsafe levels consumed over long periods of time it can adversely affect one's health. 

And this report from the EPA, discusses  the effects of manganese.