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Residents tell San Bernardino school board septic tanks at Kimbark Elementary are contaminating local drinking water
Summary
Residents from the D'Vor community urged the San Bernardino City Unified School District board to address alleged septic-system failures at Kimbark Elementary that they say are contaminating neighborhood wells and exposed children to elevated nitrates; the board heard data requests and an accusation of a local conflict of interest.
Community residents told the San Bernardino City Unified School District board at its public comment period that failing septic infrastructure at Kimbark Elementary is contaminating nearby drinking wells and asked the district to act. "The septic tanks at Kimbark Elementary School are bleeding raw sewage into our drinking water and they need to be replaced," said Karen Slob, a D'Vor resident, who urged the board to pursue advanced treatment systems and grant funding referenced in Assembly Bill 885.
Another resident, Cindy Maruzi, told the board the most recent community well test on Aug. 28 recorded a nitrate result of 12 mg/L, above the 10 mg/L federal maximum contaminant level for nitrate in drinking water, and asked whether parents and school staff had been notified and whether students were being given bottled water. "Our wells 2A and three sit right next to the school," Maruzi said, asking who carries responsibility to notify families and the school.
A third speaker with water-sector experience, Mike Thompson, presented historical test data and a timeline of trends, saying nitrate levels rose from about 4.5 in earlier decades to roughly 7–8 in recent years and spiked at times the school was in session. Thompson also alleged a local governance problem: "There is a direct conflict of interest between D'Vor Water, the board members, and an employee that works for the school district," he said.
Board members did not take formal action during public comment. District staff and board members acknowledged the concerns and recorded follow-up requests at the close of the meeting. The board is expected to provide details requested by speakers, including whether notice was sent to the school and families, the district's testing regimen for campus water, copies of the water-quality readings provided by residents, and whether short-term protections (such as bottled water provision) have been put in place.
The residents referenced state law and funding mechanisms as possible remedies; Karen Slob cited Assembly Bill 885 as a source of grants and low-interest loans for replacement of septic systems. The board's formal minutes report that staff will return with requested data and next steps.
The public-comment segment closed without immediate board action; speakers requested the district follow up with specific testing records, clarify notification responsibilities, and evaluate options to replace or remediate the septic system serving Kimbark Elementary.
