skip to main content
drinking fountain spouting water
Washington Unified School District (WUSD) is deeply committed to ensuring the highest degree of health and safety for each school community and is dedicated to working with the community as a whole when concerns are brought to its attention.
 
On August 30, 2022, the WUSD Maintenance and Operations team partnered with the City of West Sacramento Water Treatment Plant to collect water samples from all WUSD school sites to be tested. Testing the water quality at each school was conducted out of caution in response to recent community concerns at Riverbank School. In doing so, WUSD took a proactive approach to reassure school communities throughout the District that the water quality at each school is and continues to be safe for consumption.
 
As part of this process, all schools and facilities districtwide were tested, including the Alyce Norman site and the District Office. Riverbank School was not part of this test as it had recently undergone a series of tests. The test included an analysis of Chlorine Levels, Color, Turbidity (water clarity), and Bacteria Presence. 
 
View the results of the Districtwide Water Testing 2022.
Riverbank Water Testing

Riverbank Water Testing

WUSD received concerns from its community in 2021 and 2022 regarding the water quality available at Riverbank School. In response to those concerns, the WUSD Maintenance and Operations teams investigated each instance thoroughly to determine the most appropriate course of action. As such, professional independent laboratory tests were commissioned on both occasions showing that NO pathogens were found in the water, deeming it safe to drink. Additionally, it is important to note that WUSD commissioned a mineral test of the water at Riverbank School in 2019 to test for lead, which resulted in no findings.

Furthermore, the City of West Sacramento Water Treatment Plant conducted a separate test of the water safety at Riverbank School in 2022, providing a second opinion and reaffirming that the water was safe to drink and NO pathogens were found. Recommendations to WUSD for future actions are that playground water fountains be cleaned weekly due to their location being out in the elements and not under a covering.
Riverbank Water Test Results

Riverbank Water Test Results

City of West Sacramento Water Quality

City of West Sacramento Water Quality

The City of West Sacramento Water Treatment Plant is the official water provider for the entire City of West Sacramento. This includes WUSD. The City of West Sacramento is dedicated to supplying its customers with a safe and reliable supply of high-quality drinking water and reports on water quality annually. Those annual reports are available on the City of West Sacramento website.
Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the water from the school fountains actually yellow?

No. The water from the water fountains does NOT come out looking yellow. It comes out looking clear. The yellow water seen circulating in photos online is because the test kit used by community members is a type of color test. Therefore, the water turns a different color depending on what is detected by that test.

When and how did someone notice something was wrong with the water?

Washington Unified School District (WUSD) was made aware of concerns regarding the water quality at Riverbank School on August 9, 2022, less than 24 hours before the start of the new school year on August 10, 2022.

Before students or staff stepped foot on the campus on August 10, 2022, WUSD ensured that bottled water was available in every classroom and workspace, and an independent laboratory was contacted to conduct a detailed investigation and tests of the water at Riverbank School.

Has anyone gotten sick from the water?

No. No one has gotten sick from the water. 

How often does WUSD test the water in schools?

The City of West Sacramento is the water provider throughout West Sacramento. Reports on water quality and safety are available on the City of West Sacramento website.

Was the water tested at Riverbank? And what were the results?

Yes, the water at Riverbank was tested. The WUSD Maintenance and Operations teams investigated each instance thoroughly to determine the most appropriate course of action. As such, professional independent laboratory tests were commissioned in 2021 and 2022, showing that NO pathogens were found in the water, deeming it safe to drink. 

Additionally, the City of West Sacramento Water Treatment Plant conducted a separate test of the water safety at Riverbank School in 2022, providing a second opinion and reaffirming that the water was safe to drink and NO pathogens were found.

What type of tests were conducted at Riverbank?

The type of laboratory test conducted at Riverbank were bacterial tests.

Is there an issue with any school's water system or is that entire area exposed to a problem?

No. There are no issues with Riverbank School’s water system, nor is the surrounding area at any risk.
 
Please note that the City of West Sacramento Water Treatment Plant is the official water provider for the entire City of West Sacramento. This includes Washington Unified School District.