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Residents press district over alleged nitrate contamination at Kimbark Elementary
Summary
Residents and water experts urged the San Bernardino City Unified board to investigate alleged nitrate contamination tied to septic systems at Kimbark Elementary, citing reverse-osmosis filters, past leaks and recent samples near 10 parts per million.
Community members told the San Bernardino City Unified School District board on Sept. 16 that septic systems near Kimbark Elementary are contaminating local groundwater and putting students at risk.
Karen Slobomb, a longtime D'vor resident, asked whether a district-installed reverse-osmosis filter mentioned by staff covers cafeteria fountains and bathroom faucets and said parents had not been notified of do-not-drink notices. "If not, the children are being directly exposed to the nitrates," Slobomb said during the public comment period, and she urged the district to produce public records the community has requested.
Liz King, another resident, said the septic systems at Kimbark are "outdated and overused" and argued they should be replaced with advanced treatment systems (ATS) that treat effluent before it percolates into the aquifer. King cited Assembly Bill 885 (2000) as an example of state law that can support replacement through grants and low-interest loans and asked the board what steps had been taken after district staff visited the site.
Mike Thompson, who said he reviewed water and billing records, described historic and recent sampling that he said reflect a troubling trend. Thompson told trustees the two monitoring wells have recent sample averages approaching the 10 parts-per-million level he described in his analysis: "Right now... 9.8 parts per million on average between the two wells. 2A has been running at 10.1 and well 3es at 9.5," he said, adding that the year-to-date average was about "10.2." Thompson urged the district to examine prior leaks and billing records that may have affected historic measurements.
Board members did not debate or act on the requests during the meeting; staff acknowledged that a district team had been sent to the site for inspection and said they would follow up after the public comment period. Trustees asked staff to include follow-up information in forthcoming updates.
What happens next: Community members requested public records and a clearer plan for replacing septic systems and notified trustees that they will press for an engineering assessment and a formal communications plan to parents and the local water district.
Quotes used in this article are from public comments made during the Sept. 16 board meeting.
