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Water Testing Policy

Purpose

Flex Academy isstays committed to the health, safety, and well-being of all students, staff, and community that enters its building. Isaiah 44:3 reads, “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.” As a Christian School we thank God for His provision in blessing us so abundantly with water to drink in Canada. As a school, we take great pride in the responsibility of ensuring that our drinking water is safe as we will diligently observe the results from both external and internal testing.

Authority

The Black Mountain Irrigation District (BMID) is an improvement district operating within the Central Okanagan Regional District. A large portion of their service area falls within the City of Kelowna boundaries. The primary water sources for the BMID are the Scotty Creek and Mission Creek watersheds. Flex Academy (FA) falls within these boundaries. Therefore, BMID will act as the quality and safety control for water coming into the school from these external sources.

The BMID website is http://www.bmid.ca

Water Concerns

Will be addressed by the BMID and through other sources such as Castanet and local radio. Additionally, FLEX ACADEMY may call the BMID emergency line at (250) 868 5737 as necessary. FLEX ACADEMY’ primary concern is ensuring that the drinking water provided to students, families, and community has not been tainted internally through lead input.

Water Testing Protocol

FLEX ACADEMY adheres to the recommendations of Health Authorities that advises that an accredited and independent laboratory test the water quality of the school. Thus, FLEX ACADEMY will have its water tested once per year and this includes water fountains and lunchroom taps. As advised, one sample will be collected before flushing the water (running the tap for at least two minutes) and another separate sample collected after flushing. FLEX ACADEMY currently uses Caro Analytical Services at teamcaro@caro.ca 

Once the lead testing has been conducted by CARO an accredited analysis of the sample for lead will be e mailed to the school in a report detailing the test results and will be placed in the Safety Binder and these results will be sent annually to the Ministry by March 30th.

Mitigating Risks

Will be done through FLEX ACADEMY taking the necessary steps to complycompliant with water testing safetyrequirements requirements(less than 0.005 milligrams per litre) (testing once every 3 years) as statedper inBC theSource Drinking Water Guidelines and The Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water QualityQuality.

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If results are not within acceptable guidelines the school will inform the health authority, independent school office and undertake any needed mitigation. The school will communicate with parents and the school community in a timely manner. 

Where external rental facilities are used for face to face learning, students are required to bring potable water to the site.

Families can review the regulations that govern the protection and access safe drinking water in British Columbia here:

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