Middle Creek High School football players say they were sickened after drinking water

At least five Middle Creek High School football players complained of feeling ill after they earlier this week inadvertently consumed a chemical that ended up in the tank that provides water for the student athletes during practice, authorities said.

Lisa Luten, a spokeswoman for Wake County Public Schools, said the students did not require medical attention after the incident, which occurred Tuesday evening at the Apex school.

One of students told WRAL News that the the water tasted like paint had been added to it after they drank it from a water filtration system at their practice site.

Luten told WRAL News that a subcontractor for RDU Paving, identified as Advantage Sports, Inc., was performing work at the school when the company's subcontractor attached a hose to the school’s water hose, which was attached to the school’s water supply.

In a statement to WRAL News, RDU Paving said, "Advantage Sports, Inc., a subcontractor of RDU Paving, Inc. was working onsite at Middle Creek High School on Tuesday, October 1, 2019, and had its hose connected to a yard hydrant. We understand that a school staffer responsible for the drinking water for the Middle Creek High School athletes inadvertently used the subcontractor’s water hose to fill the hydration tanks."

Wake County Public Schools issued a written statement: "RDU Paving's subcontractor attached a hose to the school’s water hose, which was attached to the school’s water supply. They used that hose to fill a container containing chemicals. The chemicals appears to have backfilled from the container into the subcontractor's hose. The subcontractor then left the contaminated hose attached the school’s hose, which was still attached to the school’s water supply. It's our understanding that the hose was then inadvertently used by someone other than the subcontractor to fill a tank of drinking water used by students.

The school sent a letter home to parents, advising them of what happened and district officials said they responded appropriately to the incident.

It was not immediately clear how many of the players drank the water.

One player told WRAL News that the water tasted like paint.

A parent said the water made their son vomit.

"It is alarming," said Chris Pegram. "I mean, both of my kids play soccer out right now. It is important to stay hydrated."

Luten said the parents of each student received a phone call from school district officials to explain what happened.

The students apparently felt better the next day.

"If I was a parent of one of the kids that drunk the water, I want to know pretty quick," Pegram said. "I would be alarmed by not knowing more answers on what was in the water, I would want to get answers on what was in the water. I would want to get those answers pretty quick."

On Wednesday, the players resumed their practice routine.