Fountains to flow after copper scare

By Emily Richmond

Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003 | 11:27 a.m.

Elevated copper levels in the water at Darnell Elementary School have kept the drinking fountains shut down since the campus opened two years ago, but Clark County School District officials said Tuesday they expect the taps to start flowing again soon.

Dave Broxterman, administrative manager for the school district's facilities division, said the amount of copper detected in the water at Darnell, located at 9480 W. Tropical Parkway, was never dangerous and only slightly above recommended levels. Recent tests show the level has dropped and Broxterman said he plans to ask the Clark County Health District to give the OK for the school to use the water for drinking.

Up until now the school has relied on bottled water in place of the drinking fountains, although sink faucets are used for washing hands, said Darnell office manager Eloise Carroll.

"The children don't seem to mind the bottled water, although they have to keep bottles at their desk and take them to gym," Carroll said this morning.

Once the health district clears the school, a letter will be sent to parents explaining the change, Carroll said.

It's not unusual for new campuses to show higher levels of certain minerals in the water as pipes are used for the first time, Broxterman said. At Sandy Miller International Academy, a new magnet elementary school on East Lake Mead Boulevard, bottled water is also being provided because of slight elevations in lead levels.

District officials are tracing the source of the problem and expect to have it resolved quickly, Broxterman said.