'Mad scientist?': Townsend middle schooler gets DEQ involved after science fair project presentation

A poster board, two containers, knowledge and curiosity were all a sixth grade student needed to gain state agency attention after he presented his science fair project at his school that included a look at arsenic levels in the water.

In March, Townsend Middle School student Isaiah Lowry decided to create a science fair project around the importance of water testing. This went hand in hand with his original hypothesis of whether rocks, sand and filter paper made better filtration than just filter paper alone.

In a report by the Broadwater County-based newspaper MT43, Julie Lowry Sheridan, Isaiah’s mother, she said she spoke with a chemist at the state of Montana environmental laboratory in Helena. The chemist recommended Isaiah add the importance of water testing to his project by testing the school’s drinking water for lead.

Isaiah, 12, took a tour of the lab and it sparked inspiration to continue with his science fair project idea.

After filling two containers with water from the lunchroom drinking fountain he had them tested, and noticed higher levels of arsenic in the water.

The student told Principal Brad Racht, who allowed the state Department of Environmental Quality to step in and ask Isaiah questions about the process he used to test the water.

“I wanted to say 'No more science projects,'” Racht said jokingly about hearing the data his student found.

Racht was impressed by the findings and felt it was a great moment because it showed how seriously the students take their projects.

After contacting the city of Townsend, Eric Crusch, the city's public works director, carried out an investigation into the testing process used as well as the source of the water.

“We are not trying to hide anything from the public about the safety of the water. We will be taking samples periodically to see how the lead levels change,” Crusch said in an interview with MT43.

After the DEQ and city of Townsend worked together verifying changes in lead and arsenic levels, officials from DEQ said the levels of arsenic in the drinking water were not high but sitting at the legal limit.

Isaiah found levels of 10 parts per billion of arsenic, which is equivalent to 0.010 micrograms per liter. This was the same result the city and DEQ found when they completed follow-up tests.

This does not exceed the drinking water standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency, but officials said that over decades of testing the same water source arsenic levels have always been below the standard.

If a person consumes too much arsenic through drinking water over years of use they may develop skin damage or issues with their circulatory system, according to the EPA.

Thickening and discoloration of the skin, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, liver effects, cardiovascular pulmonary, immunological, neurological, reproductive, endocrine effects, and cancer of the bladder, lungs, skin, kidney, nasal passages, liver and prostate are all possible outcomes of consuming arsenic in excess over years of use, the EPA said.

DEQ officials wanted to make it clear there is no threat to safety or issues with the drinking water, but they will continue monitoring the levels.

When Isaiah was asked how it felt to find something that got a state agency involved so quickly he replied, “I just felt like it was a normal day. I wasn’t really excited, sad or nervous about it, just ready, I guess.”

Isaiah aspires to go into science when he grows up, even though he enjoys all the subjects he learns about.

Dubbed the “mad scientist” by his fourth grade classmates, Isaiah was ready for his moment and his future.

“I know what to do now, kind of,” he said.