Millville Elementary School Water Update: New System Nears September Finish

August 22, 2025

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Millville Elementary School Water Update: Early Completion in Sight

The August 21 Blackstone-Millville Regional (BMR) School Committee meeting brought encouraging news for families and staff at Millville Elementary School (MES). With a new treatment system installation ahead of schedule and bulk water now filling the school’s tanks, the Millville Elementary School water update shows real progress toward safe and reliable water.

Bulk Water Filling MES Tanks

Millville Selectman Jennifer Gill shared important updates on the ongoing water issue. On August 14, the school’s water tank was emptied, cleaned, and refilled by a MassDEP-approved bulk water supplier. This bulk water is fully potable, tested upon delivery, and confirmed free of bacteria.

Millville Elementary School water update - Selectman Gill — Millville Selectman Jennifer Gill presents update the BMR school committee meeting on August 21, 2025

Students turning on faucets at MES are currently using this bulk water while bottled water continues to be provided as an extra precaution. Gill emphasized:

Bottled water is available for drinking.
Bulk water is being supplied to the MES tanks, its tested immediately, with bacteria results returned in just two days.
The system uses chlorine and ultraviolet light as safeguards.

Gill also addressed rumors circulating online: “We’ve never had to stop water usage (for hand washing), boil water, or anything like that in Millville Elementary School.”

New Water Treatment System Nears Completion

The new treatment system for MES is now expected to be complete by September 5, earlier than the previously reported October timeline.

Once operational, MassDEP will oversee a pilot study with strict sampling and monitoring at multiple locations inside the school. This includes testing for PFAS and other water quality parameters. Increased testing will continue throughout the process.

Bottled Water Still Available for Students

Principal Christina Shafer explained how water access works for students day-to-day:

Seven coolers are spread throughout the school, including hallways, the cafeteria, and nurse’s office.
Students are encouraged to bring refillable water bottles.
Cups are available if a student forgets, and donated water bottles are kept on hand to give to those in need.

This system, Shafer said, keeps kids hydrated and ensures no child is left without safe water.

Millville Elementary School Water: A Look Back

The Millville Elementary School water update is part of a long journey.

In past years, disputes over ownership of the water system, the resignation of the original operator, and challenges in funding water operations led to uncertainty.
The school district had to purchase bottled water for many years, with disagreements over whether the town or the schools should cover the cost.
In May 2023, a previous water operator advised staff not to allow handwashing at MES — a precaution that was not directed by MassDEP, according to Millville officials.
On April 2025, the Town of Millville received a $1 million grant to fix the school’s water system, providing the critical funding needed to move from stop-gap measures to a permanent solution.
By spring 2024, frustration peaked, and the BMR School Committee even voted to keep MES closed for the 2025–26 school year. That decision was later reversed after progress toward a real solution.
Over the summer of 2025, MassDEP approved permits for a new filtration system designed to directly treat PFAS contamination.

Now, with the installation nearly complete, the situation looks far more stable. The Town of Millville, the Blackstone-Millville Regional School District, and MassDEP are working in partnership, and water from a MassDEP-approved bulk supplier is filling the tanks until the system comes online.

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