#Fairfield Connecticut–The McKinley School will remain closed on Wednesday, November 2, as we continue to clean and test the water system in the wake of the accidental introduction of an anti-corrosion chemical into the hot water system on Monday.

Extensive purging of all water systems and related equipment has been completed. Some sixty water samples have been sent to the York Lab LLC for testing.  We anticipate receiving the results of the testing by the end of the day on Wednesday.  If the results are “clean”, school will reopen on Thursday.

The decision to keep the school closed while we await the results of independent testing was made in collaboration with Sands Cleary, Fairfield’s Director of Health.  We have also consulted with the Connecticut Department of Public Health and the Aquarion Water Company on this matter.

We now believe that the cooling water inhibitor (known as Formula 1200) was introduced into the hot water boiler sometime between 12:00 noon and 12:30 p.m.  By 1:40 p.m., the error had been reported and the water system shut down.  It is unlikely – but not impossible – that anyone would have ingested any of the affected water through the school’s drinking fountains, as the contamination occurred in the hot water system.

A decision regarding the status of McKinley School for Thursday, November 3, will be made late tomorrow afternoon, once the results of independent water testing have been received.

(Press Release)

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