Drill tests underway at Spring Park school

Several test wells were dug next to Spring Park Elementary in Charlottetown Wednesday to check the groundwater depth to see if that is connected to mould at the school.

Spring Park was closed on Friday due to mould contamination. Students will be sent to several schools around the city. Those preparations are underway, and students will be back in class Jan. 20.

The mould problem is in the school's basement, and there is speculation it could be because groundwater is seeping in.

"This is one way to rule out what we don't have to deal with. We're trying to sort out, where is the problem coming from," said Foster Millar, the province's director of public works and planning.

"If we can rule out two or three things, or one thing, that people are in their comments suggesting might be the problem then we're that much closer to a solution and a cost [of repair]."

Students were allowed back in the school Wednesday to remove anything they may have left behind on Friday.

Officials are hoping to have repairs completed so that the school can reopen in September.

Consultants hope to have results from the testing within two weeks.