Two kids sick after drinking blue water at Heathmont East Primary School

Two children got sick after drinking coloured water from contaminated taps at a primary school in Melbourne’s east, the Education Department has confirmed. Parents says two young victims “vomited blue” while others were ordered to the GP.

A temporary water fountain has been installed at Heathmont East Primary School after a blue water outbreak. Picture: Supplied.

Two students allegedly “vomited blue” and others went home sick after drinking contaminated water at Heathmont East Primary School.

As reported by Maroondah Leader this week, blue water began flowing out of a set of taps at the school on May 29.

Testing after the incident found the condition of brass tapwear and copper pipes in a building turned the water blue.

The school turned off all of its taps as a precaution and its 630 students are drinking bottled water and using temporary fountains until the affected taps are fixed.

Heathmont East Primary School switched off all its water taps following the outbreak.

Members of the Meanwhile In Heathmont Facebook page discussed the aftermath of the outbreak and the school’s maintenance issues following Maroondah Leader’s story.

Debra Chaplin said: “There were two children at HEPS that vomited blue” while Sharyn Cohen said there was “a few known instances of children being sent home to go to the GP after drinking the water.”

The Department of Education confirmed two students became ill and received medical attention after drinking the blue water. Both have since returned to the school.

The department also provided the students’ families with health advice following the incident.

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Speaking on behalf of the school, Department of Education spokesman Michael Courts said the school’s water supply was safe and the affected taps were being replaced.

“As a further precaution, once the repair works are completed, repeat testing will be undertaken to ensure the water is within Australian Drinking Water Guidelines,” he said.

Heathmont East Primary had two other health scares this term after asbestos was discovered in three play areas and termite damage in its main building.

The Department Of Education is covering the cost of all repairs and the school is expected to switch all its taps back on at the start of term three.

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