CUSHING – SAD 50 officials will meet Thursday to discuss problems with the drinking water at Cushing Community School.

The district’s buildings, maintenance and development committee will talk about options for remedying the problem. Copper lead is being blamed for the failed water tests, Business Manager John Spear said Monday.

Since the failed water test, bottled water coolers have been placed in the school for drinking, Superintendent John Dirnbauer said Monday.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Georges Valley High School.

“It’s a copper lead issue,” Spear said, explaining that about five years ago, a law was passed regarding water testing of schools with private wells. The district installed a “calcite contactor,” which is a piece of equipment that coats the inside of pipes to reduce the copper lead problem, he said.

After the equipment was installed, the water was retested and passed muster, Spear said, but subsequent tests have failed and worsened.An in-depth analysis of the system is being looked at, he said, to determine various options in correcting the situation.