8:24am Sunday 2nd April 2006
By Christine Briddon
Chiswick schools are to be checked following the discovery of the bacteria which leads to Legionnaires' disease at a Hounslow school.
Cranford Community School faced disruption last week after the bacteria was discovered in the plumbing system after tests were carried out.
Showers and toilets were closed down, while portable toilets, water heaters and barrels of spring water were moved on to the site in High Street, Cranford.
The entire plumbing system of the block will have to be replaced to eradicate the problem and the cost is expected to run into many thousands of pounds.
A spokesman for Hounslow Council said: "The bacteria legionella pneumophila was found in pipes in block B. A new plumbing system will have to be installed and we are still working out the cost. It is hoped all plumbing work will be carried out by the end of the Easter holidays."
On January 30 a routine check at the school found the waterwas brown and discoloured. The system was flushed through, with water taps and shower heads cleaned, descaled and disinfected and extra chlorine dioxide put into the water.
Showers which were identified as a possible risk area were shut down and isolated and the hot water supply also identified as a risk was shut off.
It was confirmed that bacteria was in the system on March 16 The school has 1,480 pupils, aged between 11 and 18, but fortunately that week there have been fewer people on site as 210 year 10 pupils have been out on work experience.
An allegation that children have had to use dirty portable toilets while staff use clean toilets has been denied by the council.
The spokesman said: "Teachers have always had toilets which are separate from the pupils' toilets for obvious reasons and they are continuing to use those while the children have new portable toilets.
"They can't be filthy as they are brand new."
Legionnaires' disease can be caught by inhaling droplets of infected water suspended in the air.
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