School water contaminated

Students at Gridley’s Manzanita Elementary School have been exposed to contaminated water, according to a Butte County Public Health press release. The small public water system tested positive for elevated levels of the chemical 1,2,3-Trichloropropane, aka TCP.

The human-made chemical, historically used as a pesticide and herbicide additive, is listed as a carcinogen under California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, and was banned in the 1990s. California began testing for TCP in December 2017.

The school was immediately provided access to safe drinking water, the release states, and is protected from further exposure. The state Water Resource Control Board and county Environmental Health Department will work with the school to figure out whether to install a new well or treatment system.