BBC investigation reveals Carillion employee falsified water contamination reading at an Exeter school
A BBC investigation has revealed that an employee of integrated support services company Carillion, which provides infrastructure services at six Exeter schools (West Exe, St Peter's C of E, St Luke's, St James', Isca and Wynstream Primary School) attempted to cover up a test result that revealed the water supply at St Peter's C of E School contained almost 10 times the legal limit of iron.
The falsified document was reportedly discovered in January, in which a reading for iron that found 1,840 micrograms per litre of water was changed to just 184 by a Carillion employee - the legal limit is 200.
Carillion told the BBC it was down to "a single individual" who has subsequently resigned.
The test was carried out because the school had already been suffering problems with its water supply. Students had to drink bottled water for several months after high levels of metals were found in the supply. Carillion was attempting to resolve the problem.
As a result, an investigation was launched which also revealed metal contamination in water supplies at the other five schools Carillion looked after.
This also found legionella, the bacteria which can cause Legionnaires' disease, at West Exe College, which was also immediately supplied with bottled drinking water.
In a statement, Devon County Council said its evidence indicated no child or member of staff at the schools suffered ill health as a result of the water contamination or the legionella.
Carillion, which is tasked with maintaining the six schools under a private finance initiative (PFI), said it replaced all drinking water fountains and maintained a supply of fresh, chilled bottled water to all of the schools.
At West Exe College, Carillion said it had put several procedures in place including providing portable sinks, replacing and disinfecting pipes and adding filters to reduce contamination.
An independent testing regime is now being used to identify and test for any high metal readings.
A spokesperson for Carillion told The Exeter Daily, "The falsified metals result was submitted by a single individual working alone, who is no longer engaged by Carillion. We pride ourselves on our strong values and high standards of corporate governance and unfortunately on this occasion the actions of a single individual fell far below our standards.
"The health and safety of pupils and teachers has always been of paramount importance. As soon as the high metals reading was established, all drinking water fountains were isolated and temporary drinking water supplies were provided in all schools to ensure a safe supply of drinking water for school users.
"As far as the safe management and control of Legionella risk at West Exe is concerned, all appropriate action has been taken to control the water quality through a variety of measures, including the provision of filtration at all open water outlets.
"This provides the greatest possible level of assurance and is a response commonly adopted in hospitals to prevent the spread of water-borne pathogens such as Legionella, ensuring water is safe when used and retaining any bacteria in the filter.
"We will continue to sample and monitor water quality at West Exe, using independent test laboratories - through Source for Business, a part of South West Water - who will continue to help us ensure the safety of all school users."
A Devon County Council spokesperson has said "We are monitoring Carillion's work very carefully as well as the findings of the independent tests being carried out to ensure the safety of all staff and pupils is in no way compromised."
The BBC is due to broadcast the story on Inside Out South West at 7.30pm tonight on BBC 1.
