A Woman Drinks From a Fountain
IN PHOTO: A woman drinks water from a water fountain during a hot day in central Sydney January 5, 2010. Australia experienced its hottest decade on record, from 2000 to 2010, due to global warming, the nation's bureau of meteorology said on Tuesday, as annual summer bushfires again burn drought lands and destroy homes. Reuters/Daniel Munoz

A Victoria school fountain was reportedly connected to a sewage treatment plan. Students from St. Peter’s College in Cranbourne East, Victoria have been drinking recycled water for a year without their knowledge.

Authorities discovered that treated water coming from the Eastern Treatment Plant supplies water to the school fountain. The recycled water may have been accidentally connected to the school fountain in December 2013.

On April 1, the fountain was disconnected following a report from a maintenance worker who drank water from the fountain and found the taste to be odd. The Victorian Building Authority has taken the case into investigation.

According to school principal Tim Hogan in a report that appears in The Age, the recycled water was classified as “Class A”, the highest quality of recycled water similar to what is used on crops. The Guardian also reported that Hogan and the health department held a meeting on Thursday for concerned students and parents. Hogan said that he received numerous calls from parents mostly telling him that the students were feeling anxious about the incident.

"We are working with the health department to ensure that any anxiety they've got over this, although it is a low risk, but any worries or concerns we are dealing with those immediately and putting them in touch with health authorities," said Hogan in a report from 3AW.

The incident was announced to the entire school community on Tuesday and officials are now testing water from the other 20 fountains at St. Peter’s, as well as fountains from other schools that are connected to the Eastern Treatment Plant and Pakenham Class A Recycled Water Plant.

Concerns are focused on a possible gastroenteritis outbreak but the health department reported no illnesses associated with the incident. According to the Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning, water assessment showed the risk of contracting illness from drinking recycled water is low.

To contact the writer, email: wendylemeric@gmail.com

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