The Colquitt County School System is considering a filtration system to deal with elevated levels of arsenic found in well water at Hamilton Elementary School.

The system learned of the elevated levels of the naturally occurring poisonous substance in January, at which time the Georgia Department of Natural Resources recommended monitoring the well that serves the school through the end of the year, Schools Superintendent Samuel DePaul said during a Wednesday interview.

The annual test for heavy metals at the beginning of the year turned up a level of arsenic of 10 parts per billion (ppb). In June two tests conducted to cover spring and summer put the level at 10 ppb and 11 ppb.

A result of 10 ppb of more is considered cause for concern, DePaul said. Tests conducted by the school system since that time have put the levels in the range of 9.5 ppb to 10.5 ppb.

“It’s not getting any better,” he said.

Rather than waiting until the end of the year to see whether the situation improved, the system cut off the water supply to fountains in the entire school and students have been drinking from dispensers containing a safe supply of water, DePaul said. Safe water also is being used to cook food in the school cafeteria.

The school is using well water in the bathrooms.

In a Sept. 4 letter, the school system notified parents of the issue.

“We understand that there is a vein of arsenic that runs throughout the state of Georgia,” the letter said. “We also understand that Hamilton Elementary School sits in the area of this vein; this is the most likely cause for the level of arsenic.”

Since June the system’s maintenance personnel have tested the water every two weeks in addition to the quarterly monitoring required by the state, the letter said.

“All the testing is not yet complete; however, we are taking a pro-active role to ensure the safety of our students and staff at Hamilton Elementary School,” the letter said.

Because the levels do not seem to be improving, on Tuesday the Colquitt County School Board authorized purchasing a filtration system that will remove substances, including arsenic, from the water.

One vendor has been contacted and provided a price of about $50,000 for the system.

After checking with other vendors the system will make a decision soon.

DePaul expects the filtration system will be installed “immediately” after Rick Gehle, schools director of maintenance, gathers all necessary information.

“It’s not something that’s going to take three months,” DePaul said. “Basically, this will fix the situation.”

Funds for the work will come from reserve funds as the project was not budgeted, he said.

The school system has three additional sites where well water is used. Those are Odom Elementary, Okapilco Elementary and Packer Park.

Those wells have tested safe, DePaul said.

The Observer became aware of the situation when a commenter posted to its Facebook page Saturday after reading the letter the school system had sent to parents.