The lines are long at the water fountains in
the old building at Tarver-Renton Elementary School.
Business here has doubled since the water
fountains in the new addition have been shut down.
Normally, elementary school teachers are always
reminding their students to wash their hands
after they use the bathroom.
This week, they're telling them not to.
Actually, they couldn't if they wanted to.
As a precaution, the school has turned off the
water in the sinks.
That's just in the new addition.
Before lunch, K-3 is marched over to the old
building to wash their hands.
One week ago, the health Department informed
the Cibolo Water Company they didn't have
enough chlorine in their water to kill bacteria.
The new addition gets its water from Cibolo.
Due to a water break in the system, they were
afraid bacteria had gotten in the lines and
that we should take precautions.
And that's what we've done.
As bad luck would have it, the cafeteria is
also in the new addition.
All the water used for cooking, for washing
fruits and vegetables, and for washing dishes
has to be boiled.
The kids are eating with plastic, on plastic,
to cut down on dishes.
We cannot wash our hands in the water in there.
We cannot use it for our laundry.
I have to take our towels and aprons and stuff
home to wash.
All the classrooms in the new addition now have
bottled water and cups to ease the lines
at the water fountains in the old building.
School officials are waiting for the health
Department to tell them when the Cibolo Company's
water is fit to drink again.
Marion Connor, Channel 5 News, Rendon.