Parents alarmed as elevated lead levels reported in water serving Georgia schools
By Leon Purvis
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MIDWAY, Georgia (WJCL) — Students at Midway Middle School and Liberty Elementary returned to class Monday after the Liberty County School System sent families an advisory Friday about elevated lead levels in the city of Midway’s drinking water system.
Parents expressed concern following the advisory, which was issued after the Liberty County School System was notified by the city of Midway on Friday that elevated lead levels were found in two drinking water samples.
“I am very concerned,” said Tina Moorer, a parent of a Midway Middle School student.
“I just feel like the first people we want to protect are our children,” said Jaynele Blalock, another parent of a Midway Middle School student.
Some parents said they were unaware of the issue before the advisory.
“I did not have no idea what was going on in the school system. And that’s very concerning because my daughter she’s been coming here for like three years,” Moorer said.
The Liberty County School System shared a Facebook post explaining that the affected water system serves both Liberty Elementary and Midway Middle School.
“It’s definitely scary, especially knowing like when you hear the word lead, it’s harmful,” Blalock said.
Out of an abundance of caution, the school system has discontinued the use of school water sources for drinking and is encouraging students and staff to bring bottled water from home. The district stated that both schools are prepared to provide drinking water throughout the school day and emphasized that the health and safety of students and staff remain its top priority.
“I don’t think my son drinks the water from this school. But I would hope that the school’s first priority would be to resolve the issue,” Blalock said.
WJCL 22 News reached out to the city of Midway for more information about the elevated lead levels, water testing, and next steps but has not yet received a response.
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