Brunswick County parents want more water choices in schools

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover County Association of Educators is working on a plan to give bottled water to families as concerns continue about GenX and other contaminants.

This has some parents in Brunswick County looking for a way to do it at their schools.

“I send my kids to school, I can control what they drink here at home, but I cant control what their choices are at school unless I provide those choices and not all parents have the privilege to provide those choices,” concerned parent Emily Donovan said.

Because of concerns over GenX in the drinking water, parents in Brunswick County are working to implement a program with more water choices in the school systems.

Some would like to see free bottled water made available to students.

“I know when you ask any parent that’s serviced by H2GO if they would love to have a donation of clean water options, I haven’t found a single one say no,” Donovan said.

But ultimately it would be up to the schools.

“What I think is most important right now is that we are part of the conversations that our county leaders are having with state leaders as it relates to water quality,” Brunswick County Schools PIO Jessica Swencki said.

Donovan is not the only parent who wants to see something offered in the schools, but she said she wants her children to focus on learning and not be concerned about whether the water they drink is safe or not.

“I want him to focus on reading, I want him to focus on math and science, I want him to focus on learning not have to worry about water,” Donovan said.

For now until the county issues the water as unsafe Brunswick County school officials said they will not implement any new programs.

“At this time we have not been advised to take any protective measures and at this time we have not been advised about any alternative water supply for our students in Brunswick County,” Swencki said.

There will be a board of education meeting next Tuesday and Donovan plans to be there to talk to leaders about bringing a similar water program to Brunswick County schools.