Western Coventry School Water Manganese Don’t Drink Warning

COVENTRY, RI — The Western Coventry Elementary School public water system issued a don’t  drink warning Dec. 9 after manganese  levels above Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) advised safe amounts was found in the distribution system, the RI Health Department announced.Manganese is an unregulated contaminant, meaning there isn’t a drinking water standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but there is an EPAs Health Advisory fpr the naturally occurring element, which recent tests of the school’s drinking water exceeded, RI Department of Heath (RIDOH) reported.The results of manganese collected from a drinking water sample on Oct. 31, 2024 from Western Coventry Elementary School’s distribution system was 2.23 mg/L and a sample collected after treatment on Dec. 9, 2024 was 6.32 mg/L. The levels exceed EPAs Health Advisory (HA). EPA’s 10-day HA for bottle fed infants younger than 6 months old is 0.3 mg/L. EPAs one day and 10-day value for adults and children older than 6 months old is 1 mg/L, and EPAs Lifetime HA is 0.3mg/L, according to the RIDOH warning.

Western Coventry School Don’t Drink Warning: About Manganese

According to RIDOH, Manganese is a naturally occurring element found in rocks, soil, water, and air. It is commonly found in the food such as nuts, legumes, seeds, grains, and green leafy vegetables. It is also found in drinking water. Manganese is an essential nutrient. Consuming drinking water with manganese above the lifetime HA are not necessarily harmful to a majority of the population. An individual’s nutritional requirements for manganese and potential for harmful health effects may be highly variable.

Bottle-fed infants who drink water containing more than 0.3 mg/L of manganese over a period of 10 days?may have negative neurological effects. The following guidance listed below provides actions consumers should take to reduce their exposure to manganese in drinking water over the EPAs Health Advisory:

• Do not use the tap water to prepare bottles or food for infants.

• Do not boil tap water that you intend to drink. Boiling, freezing, or letting water stand does not reduce manganese levels. Boiling can increase levels of manganese because manganese remains behind (i.e., is concentrated) when the water evaporates.

• Infants, the elderly, and those with liver disease should avoid food made with tap water such as soup. The tap water may be used to prepare foods, such as pasta, where the water is discarded prior to consumption.

• Consumers, especially infants and the elderly, and those with liver disease should avoid consuming the water which includes using the water to make drinks or ice.

Contact your doctor if you have specific health concerns. You may wish to consult with a medical professional. The do not drink notice will remain in effect until RIDOH determines that the drinking water in the distribution system has returned to consistent and safe manganese levels under EPAs Health Advisory and RIDOH approves the do not drink notice to be lifted.

Customers with questions should contact Russel Hill at 401-822-9405.

Consumers can find additional information on manganese in drinking water and the health effects of manganese in Drinking Water, review EPA’s Drinking Water Health Advisory for Manganese: