Our school system is committed to protecting student, teacher, and staff health. To protect our community and be in compliance with the Department of Education regulations, our school’s drinking water was tested for lead.
*Note: Testing is still under way. More Y.A.L.E. School campuses will be added as the test results come in.
How Lead Enters Our Water
Lead is unusual among drinking water contaminants in that it seldom occurs naturally in water supplies like groundwater, rivers, and lakes. Lead enters drinking water primarily as a result of the corrosion, or wearing away, of materials containing lead in the water distribution system and in building plumbing. These materials include lead-based solder used to join copper pipe, brass, and chrome-plated brass faucets. In 1986, Congress banned the use of lead solder containing greater than 0.2% lead, and restricted the lead content of faucets, pipes, and other plumbing materials. However, even the lead in plumbing materials meeting these new requirements is subject to corrosion. When water stands in lead pipes of plumbing systems containing lead for several hours or more, the lead may dissolve into the drinking water. This means the first water drawn from the tap in the morning may contain fairly high levels of lead.
Lead in Drinking Water
Lead in drinking water, although rarely the sole cause of lead poisoning, can significantly increase a person’s total lead exposure, particularly the exposure of children under the age of 6. EPA estimates that drinking water can make up 20% or more of a person’s total exposure to lead.
For More Information
For more information about water quality in our schools, contact Scott Klenk at (856) 482-5252 ext. 140.
For more information on reducing lead exposure around your home and the health effects of lead, visit EPA’s Website at www.epa.gov/lead, call the National Lead Information Center at 800-424-LEAD, or contact your health care provider.
If you are concerned about lead exposure at our facilities or in your home, you may want to ask your health care providers about testing children to determine levels of lead in their blood.
