‘Lessons to be learned’ over Legionella
LEGIONELLA bacteria have been found in the water supplies of seven schools in Blaenau Gwent, resulting in several remaining closed or relocating lessons.
The issue caused five schools in the borough to remain closed when they had planned to reopen on Monday, June 29.
A report going before the council’s ruling executive says there are “lessons to be learned” and that a review will now be carried out.
The report says Blaenau Gwent council took “a very proactive and responsible approach” to reopening schools, including over water testing.
Following the Welsh Government announcement on reopening schools, a plan was set up to carry out testing, with final samples collected by June 18.
Seven days later, results showed three of the 29 schools had tested positive for legionella contamination – Blaen-y-Cwm Primary, Ystruth Primary and Brynmawr Foundation School.
The decision to keep the schools closed was agreed on Friday, June 26, and all three required “a full-system chlorination”.
Discussions with the headteacher of Brynmawr Foundation School have led to an agreement to relocate portable hand-washing units, provide bottled drinking water and provide temporary toilet facilities, allowing it to reopen this week.
Tredegar Comprehensive School also did not reopen as planned after tests showed bacteria levels were “above safe limits”.
A full-system chlorination took place, and measures such as relocating portable hand-washing units and bottled drinking water allowed it to reopen on June 30.
Willowtown school, in Ebbw Vale, did not reopen as planned on June 29 because a test result was still outstanding.
Contamination in the water supply has now been confirmed, and it was agreed to relocate its key worker childcare provision to Ebbw Vale Sports Centre from last Tuesday.
The school will partially reopen by using facilities at Ebbw Fawr Primary school for two days a week from this week.
Legionella bacteria were also found at the River Centre Learning Community in Pontygof, Brynmawr.
It has agreed to relocate school learning to the River Centre’s Thomas Richards Centre in Tredegar.
Last Saturday initial test results were also positive for legionella at Tredegar Comprehensive and Sofrydd Primary schools.
Tredegar Comprehensive can remain open as health and safety measures are already in place and a chlorination has already been carried out.
Legionella bacteria are “very low” at Sofrydd Primary School, and the outlets – a shower head and blended outlet – have been isolated and will be chlorinated.
Bottled drinking water has also been provided, and a hand-washing unit relocated to the school.
The Welsh Government has been informed of the situation and has ordered checks on water testing across schools in Wales.
“The council has generated positive outcomes in delivering the level of school provision in such unprecedented circumstances,” a report says.
“However, there are lessons to be learned at a corporate and school level. Therefore, a lessons learnt review will be conducted and the outcome will be reported to the executive and the appropriate scrutiny committees in due course.”