Five Types of School Water Quality Emergencies and How to Address Them

Water quality emergencies can create environmental and health hazards for students and staff in addition to disrupting operations for days or even weeks at a time. Proper planning can help schools contain the scope of a water quality emergency, reduce the potential for exposures to students and staff, and minimize the disruption to operations.

When developing a plan for water quality emergencies, consider how they might come about, the steps necessary to address them as they occur, and alternative methods to maintain sufficient water for drinking, hand washing, food preparation, and toilet flushing.

Below are five of the most common types of water quality emergencies and potential action steps to address them.

Water Quality Emergency	Description	Potential Action Steps
Contamination of the water supply	One of the most serious water quality emergencies is contamination of the school’s water supply. This can occur through a variety of means, such as a sewage leak, harmful bacteria, or chemicals making their way into the water supply. It’s particularly dangerous because it can lead to illness if the contaminated water is consumed or used for washing hands or food.	Notify the local health department and water supply authority Communicate with all staff, students, and parents to provide information about the suspected contamination, actions taken so far, and any immediate actions required from them Implement temporary measures for access to safe water Conduct remediation activities
Lead or other heavy metal poisoning	Older buildings, particularly those with aging pipes, may face the risk of lead or other heavy metals leaching into the water supply. These toxins can cause serious health issues, especially in children, who are more vulnerable to the effects of lead.	Stop water usage and isolate the source of the lead or heavy metal Contact relevant authorities Conduct testing Notify building stakeholders Conduct remediation activities
Boil-water advisories	In some cases, local water supplies might be affected by a situation that requires a temporary boil-water advisory. This might be due to a major pipe break, natural disaster, or other large-scale issue. During such advisories, the water is not safe to consume or use without boiling first, creating a significant inconvenience and potential risk.	Notify building stakeholders Implement temporary measures for access to safe drinking water Implement alternative food preparation and hygiene practices Follow the CDC’s guidance for schools and childcare facilities during a boil water advisory
Loss of water supply	Schools can face a water emergency if their supply is suddenly cut off due to an infrastructure failure or natural disaster. A lack of water can disrupt essential operations, from sanitation to food preparation, and could potentially necessitate temporary school closures.	Notify the relevant local health department and water supply authority Communicate with all staff, students, and parents Implement temporary measures for access to safe water for drinking, hygiene, food preparation, etc. Implement non-water-based hygiene measures (e.g., use of hand sanitizer, wet wipes, etc.) Depending on the severity of the water loss, consider temporary school closure
Waterborne Disease Outbreak	This is a serious situation where the school’s water supply is contaminated with pathogens that cause diseases, such as E. coli, Giardia, or Cryptosporidium. This could potentially lead to a large-scale outbreak of illness among students and staff if not immediately addressed.	Notify the local health department and water supply authority Communicate with all staff, students, and parents Provide as much information as possible about the disease, symptoms to watch for, steps being taken to handle the situation, and any recommended health actions Implement temporary measures for access to safe water for drinking, hygiene, food preparation, etc. Implement non-water-based hygiene measures (e.g., use of hand sanitizer, wet wipes, etc.) Implement any available disease control measures as recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention or local health authority

The Healthy Green Schools & Colleges standard includes criteria to help schools improve the health and sustainability of their campuses, including guidance on implementing water quality emergency management procedures. HGSC can help you measure the impact of your current program and track your progress toward institutional goals. When you join the HGSC program, you’ll receive live and on-demand training materials, resources, and regular access to a nationwide network of facility professionals from K-12 and higher education institutions. Learn more and join today.