Marblehead school discovers garden contaminated with floor cleaning water

MARBLEHEAD, Mass. — The Organic Garden at the Malcolm L. Bell School in Marblehead has been contaminated with dirty water.

According to a letter Marblehead Public Schools Superintendent Maryann Perry sent to the Bell School community, custodians have been discarding floor cleaning water next to and directly into the garden for several years against district protocol.

The water would have contained residue from floor cleaning operations including stripper, wax, neutralizer and floor cleaner.

In light of the recently discovery, the district has put a plan in action to address the needs of the garden.

The district consulted with the Marblehead Board of Health, which recommended removing 18 to 24 inches of soil in the lower beds. The residue doesn’t affect the raised beds. The soil will be removed and replaced with certified organic soil.

The Organic Garden committee has taken steps to get pricing and scheduling from a local contractor who has previously worked on the garden. The district is working with the committee to set up a time to get the work done.

The Board of Health told the district vegetables coming from the Upper Bell School garden lower beds have the potential to be contaminated with cleaning products.

The vegetables in the lower beds have been removed and thrown out.

If you have harvested any vegetables in the lower beds, you’re advised to throw them out.

If you have eaten any of the vegetables from the lower garden, contact the Marblehead Board of Health or your doctor.

“We are sorry for this unfortunate lack of judgement on the custodian staff,” read the letter from Superintendent Perry. “We are truly grateful for all the work the Organic Committee, parents, and teachers have done to make the garden a highlight of the Bell School. Please know we have taken steps to ensure this does not happen in the future.”

According to the Bell Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), the garden "extends learning beyond school walls and the existing outdoor classroom to harness the power of nature in broadening our children's learning experiences."

The Bell School serves pre-kindergarten to third grade students.

Boston 25 News has reached out to the Board of Health to see if any illnesses have been reported.

Cox Media Group