From The Canyon Courier (Sal Christ):
The number of Jeffco schools affected by unsafe levels of lead in drinking water from at least one sink or water fountain has risen to 109.
According to documents posted to the district’s website, approximately 7,500 samples have been taken from 144 schools since June 3, and more than 500 of those samples showed lead levels above the Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum allowable level, which is 15 parts per billion.
As of Wednesday morning, test results are back for 137 schools, and approximately 80 percent have lead levels above the EPA threshold.
The test results show that a significant number of classroom and laboratory sinks are affected, as well as numerous food service sinks and sprayers, and drinking fountains in girls’ locker rooms at several schools. The lead levels at the affected schools range from 15.1 to 3,704.8 parts per billion.
Commenting on the latest numbers, district spokeswoman Diana Wilson said some of the results were expected due to the age of many of the buildings.
“Considering the age of many of our schools, we knew there was a risk that some of the plumbing fixtures could result in lead content in the drinking water being above the EPA recommended level. That is exactly what led us to test,” she said.
Six months ago, the district began testing its drinking water after high lead levels were found at the Head Start building the district previously owned in Arvada. Since then pipes and plumbing at several schools have been replaced, and a remediation plan has been developed.
Still, district officials said at a special meeting of the Jeffco school board in late July that the district hadn’t tested for lead since 1990 — partially because it wasn’t legally required to do so.
Test results for a handful of schools are still forthcoming, but do not include charter schools. Wilson said that of the school district’s 155 schools, 10 percent are charters, and “their facilities are not maintained by the district.”