Charlestown, R.I. (WPRI) – Elevated levels of lead have been found in the well water of Charlestown Elementary School.
The samples were taken from the faculty room and the school’s clinic.
The Department of Health says the elevated level was found in a recent test, not in the annual testing that was conducted in November.
"There was an exceedence of lead detected in the water during that testing for other contaminates which lead us to do follow up testing in the school at the actual taps in the school and that was where the high levels were found at the taps in the school," said Joseph Wendelken of the Rhode Island Department of Health.
As a result, school officials switched over to bottled water.
The school will continue using bottled water until test results are negative.
The surrounding community is not impacted, since the school is on well water.
The Department of Health will take additional water samples on Monday, May 21.
The Chariho Regional School District has flushed the line that runs from the well to storage tanks.
It has also flushed two tanks.