A majority of children returning to Jefferson County schools this week will be heading into buildings that have at least some water outlets testing higher for lead than the federal guidelines for water quality.
To date, Jefferson County School District staff has tested 91 of its 155 schools.Tests have come back for 72 of those schools. Of the 72, more than 2,700 water outlet samples tested below the Environmental Protection Agency's "action level." However most schools had at least a couple of high-lead locations, adding up to 233 high samples.
The EPA states there is "no known safe level of lead." It instituted regulations in 1986 and more in 1991 that helped end the use of high-lead plumbing materials in all buildings.
Diana Wilson, Jeffco's chief communication officer, says the district intends to have all of the 115 district schools that were built before 1990 thoroughly tested by Aug. 18 --; the first day of school for students. But not all test results will be back by then. Also, newer schools will still need to be tested, though the odds of lead contamination there are much lower.
Initial testing is costing the district $75,000. There is no estimate yet for what the cost to replace necessary plumbing might be.
Local schools that have tested within safety levels for lead include Belmar, Devinny, Glennon, Hutchinson and Patterson Cottages elementaries in Lakewood; as well as Sheridan Green Elementary in Westminster.
Here are three things to know for Jeffco families:
District takes initiative
The EPA sets a standard of 15 parts per billion (one microgram per liter of water) for water utilities. There is no law, or even school district guideline, saying a district in Colorado must check for lead. The district's Environmental Services Department initiated the testing after an older building owned by the district, but used for a county Head Start program, tested its water in April and found higher lead levels.
The district publicly announced the testing process, and has been publishing results on a near-daily basis all summer. Families with sutdents enrolled last year, at schools where a lead problem has been idenfitied, have been notified by letter from the district.
The district remains committed to 86,000 students and school staff, Wilson said. "We have young kids with growing brains, and we want them to be in the healthiest environment possible."
No health problems have been reported
As of last week, Wilson said the district is not aware of any student identified as having abnormally high lead concentrations in his or her system. Still, the district asks any parents that feel concerned to contact their family health-care provider for more information.
"The detailed testing information is designed to help families make that value judgment," said Wilson. "So for instance, if it was the drinking fountain in their student's class last year, maybe they do want to get that student checked out."
In Flint, Michigan, water levels found 200 to 5,000 ppb of lead. In comparison, only 11 of 3,000 water outlets in Jeffco schools tested 200 or higher, according to the district's Environmental Services Department.
Work continues
All faucets and fountains found to have elevated levels of lead have been labeled with warning signs, and won't be turned on until tests confirm levels have dropped below 15 parts-per-billion.
On the EPA's suggestions, district plumbers will flush out pipes in older schools --; where test results have not yet come back from the lab --; before students arrive.
Several schools, beginning with Peck Elementary in Arvada, have had faucets, feed lines and cut-offs replaced with newer, lead-free plumbing. Some locations, including Arvada K-8, had spots that likely will require tearing into walls to fix certain pipes.
"Our plumbers are moving as fast as they can, working nights and weekends," Wilson said.
The district has prioritized the testing and fixing of the oldest elementary schools first. As of press deadline, six middle schools and three high schools have also been tested. Wilson said there was no timeline for when all the work might be completed. She said the district has a long-term goal of having all school water sources as close to zero lead as possible.
from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/Lead-may-be-in-your-childs-school,233819
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