The water at a newly opened £36million secondary school is still undrinkable – nearly two months after it opened.
Pupils at the Ellon Academy Community Campus have been handed bottled water throughout the first term at the new build due to continuing problems with the water system.
The quality of water has been deemed unsafe, and contractors Farrans Construction are currently working to fix the “technical problem” which is affecting the flow to the school’s drinking fountains.
Head of the property and facilities management for the council, Allan Whyte, said: “The contractor is working to resolve the water issues at the campus.
“Further testing will take place and it is hoped the water restrictions can be removed by the end of October.”
Following its opening on August 20, pupils and members of the public were also unable to use the pool for a week due to issues with its cleansing system.
Last night, community leaders played down the issue and said “teething problems” were to be expected.
Councillor Gillian Owen said: “The water problem as I understand it is a vicious circle. The fountains need to be continually flushed but until they reach the acceptable level they can’t be used. But actually using them would continually flush the system.”
However she said everyone in the area was “over the moon” with the new academy, adding: “I think most people accept there will teething problems but they are insignificant when you have the fantastic facility that they now have.”
She was echoed by fellow Ellon councillor Isobel Davidson, who said: “There is plenty of drinking water available. It is just a teething problem and there is obviously these problems with new buildings – but on the whole the school is brilliant.”
And the town’s community council chairman Sandy McDougall said: “You get teething problems with new buildings. Everybody in Ellon is very pleased and proud of the new academy.
“Undoubtedly these problems will happen on buildings like this and people are gradually settling in to the new facilities.
“At the end of the day it is a £40milllion building project, it opened on time, the pupils were in, these things happen.”
The new campus at Cromleybank replaced the ageing one on Schoolhill Road and boasts a 25m swimming pool, a theatre with cinema-style seating and a canteen for 240 people.