Lead in Water in Schools: Top 7 Most Frequently Asked Questions

Lead in Water in Schools: Top 7 Most Frequently Asked Questions

by | Mar 5, 2019 | Lead in Water Problems

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March, 2019

Whether your a school administrator, teacher, or concerned parent, the topic of lead in drinking water can be very concerning, overwhelming, and complex. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, whose mission is to help communities improve access to clean drinking water, we have fielded many questions regarding this topic and for that reason have decided to provide answers for the most popular questions.  

Did we miss any questions that are important to you? Leave a comment below and we’ll do our best to respond with an answer immediately.

Q: Are schools required to test for water in lead?

A: The majority of schools are not legally required to test their drinking water for lead. This, along with lack of funding and education for water infrastructure, is arguably the top reason why there is a lead crisis in US schools. If it weren’t for the media attention in Flint, MI, there could still be very little awareness about the issue.

Fortunately, there is progress on the horizon as states and municipalities are beginning to establish their own regulations for testing drinking water for lead. Illinois, New Jersey, and New York are some of the first states to implement new policies.  

 

Q: How bad is the lead in water situation in schools.  

A: Richard Maas, the former Co-director of the Environmental Quality Institute of the University of North Carolina-Asheville, estimates that if samples were taken at every school tap in the US, 10-20% would test positive for lead. Combing the probability of finding lead in school’s water with the fact that children are at the highest health risk, is cause for major concern. Although lead in water in schools may not yet be a mainstream media topic, it is an extremely pressing issue.  

Fortunately, there is progress on the horizon as states and municipalities are beginning to establish their own regulations for testing drinking water for lead. Illinois, New Jersey, and New York are some of the first states to implement new policies.  

 

Q: Is flushing a safe method to remediate lead in drinking water?

A: Although it is common to see schools use flushing as a way to address their lead problem, it is NOT a safe method. New research out of Polytechnique Montreal in Quebec, Canada shows that unsafe lead levels return as soon as 15-20 minutes after flushing.  

Fortunately, there is progress on the horizon as states and municipalities are beginning to establish their own regulations for testing drinking water for lead. Illinois, New Jersey, and New York are some of the first states to implement new policies.  

Q: What level of lead in water is considered safe?

A: There is conflicting messaging from some of the leading governing bodies about this question, but overall it is agreed that there is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Many are confused about this topic because the EPA sets the action level for lead in water at 15 ppb, but at the same time states that there is no safe level of lead in drinking water.

As the old adage in the medical world goes, “the poison is in the dose.”  If lead levels above 1 ppb are exposed to young children or pregnant mothers, then there is cause for concern.  

Q: What is the best way to solve the lead problem in schools?

A: There are two main methods that we would recommend schools to consider when it comes to lead remediation, although only one is likely feasible for most schools.

The first option to consider is remediation through removing the source of lead, which is either the service line, internal piping, or lead-bound fixture. While this solution is very effective, the problem is that it can be extremely expensive and take a year or so to complete.

The second option to consider is now the most popular, which is point-of-use (POU) filtration. Elkay, the leading manufacturer for drinking fountains and bottle fillers, uses point-of-use, filters that are effective and accommodate the drinking water setup of schools.

Q: What are the health dangers of lead in water?

A: Lead is harmful to various aspects of human health, especially in children, and can result in lowered IQ, behavioral problems, brain damage, and more.

Q: As a school, how can I test my drinking water for lead?

A: The best way to test school’s drinking water for lead is to work with a state-certified lab. The EPA’s website provides a list of certified labs by state. It is also becoming common for states or cities to have free testing programs so it would be wise to first check with your local agencies.  

 

Westford Academy Bottle Filling Stations Give Hope for Saving Plastic

Westford Academy Bottle Filling Stations Give Hope for Saving Plastic

by | Jul 12, 2018 | Lead in water

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July, 2018
While the Bottle Bill may not have passed in Massachusetts this election, it’s wonderfully comforting to know that plastic is being saved all over the state through a variety of smaller, grassroots initiatives. Recently, we covered Melrose Middle School and the Green Team, a group of twelve sixth-graders who felt so passionate about saving plastic that they fought to install two bottle filling stations in their middle school, eliminating the need for single-use bottles.

Now we’re on to a slightly older, yet just as impassioned, group of interns at Westford Academy. With the help of Sustainable Westford, the Westford Academy Student Council and a couple of eager seniors, over 20,000 plastic bottles have been saved with the installation of two bottle filling stations in the tight-knit community.

Led by Director Gloria Gilbert, Sustainable Westford is the pinnacle of environmental change in the town of Westford. Through a variety of workshops, movie screenings and speakers, the organization brings together the community through sustainable change and green ideas. Leading the busy group through grant-writing, fundraising, and running the town farmers’ market, Gilbert also takes on a couple interns each quarter and encourages them to follow their environmental passions via a unique project during their time there.

One intern, Emily Wood, came into her internship at Sustainable Westford with a great passion for water and a feeling of disgust towards the negative effects single-use bottles have on human and environmental health. Brainstorming with Gloria, she came up with a solution: installing bottle filling stations on their school campus.

With Gloria’s help, Emily spearheaded the campaign, speaking in front of Student Council and convincing them of the positive effects a bottle filling station would have on the community. After six months of connecting with student council members, talking to teachers and organizing her peers, Emily and Sustainable Westford were able to receive enough funding to install two bottle filling stations in the local school.

“I wanted to make sure people knew why this was so important and what a positive impact they were having,” she explained. To do so, Emily prioritized not only raising the money for installing the station, but the important educational piece that came with it. She created videos for the school announcements, touting the benefits of having such plastic-saving stations in the school. Once the bottle filling stations were installed, she was sure to organize a large ribbon cutting ceremony to remind her peers of the monumental part they were playing in reducing plastic and valuing their water supply.

As Sustainable Westford has proven, a little initiative and passion goes a long way in making change when it comes to saving plastic. Emily has since graduated, and a new group of interns, Nancy and David, have stepped in her place. While Nancy is passionately involved with the organization’s upcycling initiative, “which turns items such as whiteboard markers and granola bars into reusable accessories like backpacks or pencil cases”, David has been an effective part of planning and executing their winter film series. Talking to them via email, it was wonderful to see their passion for sustainability and the big things they’re working on at Sustainable Westford.

While our state may not have passed the Bottle Bill, there are so many ways to continue the fight against single-use bottles on a local level… even under the age of 18!

Want to start a campaign like this one at your school? Feel free to contact us!

 

Product Spotlight: Elkay WaterSentry Filter

Product Spotlight: Elkay WaterSentry Filter

by | Jul 11, 2018 | Lead in water

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July, 2018
This post is sponsored by Elkay.

 

In a recent Gallup Poll, it was estimated that 63% of Americans worry a “great deal” about the safety of their drinking water.

Why is this concern so high?

The most likely reason is the impact caused by the lead in water crisis in Flint, Michigan. This, plus the growing lifestyle trends in health and wellness have the public wondering, “Is my water safe?”

Lead is a neurotoxin that, if consumed at certain levels, can cause significant learning disabilities. Since young children are most susceptible to the health dangers, it is no surprise that schools are receiving so much attention.

While schools may be aware of the issue, they often lack the resources and expertise to solve the problem. For that reason, we’ve decided to spotlight a viable solution for reducing the amount of lead in water, Elkay’s WaterSentry® filters.

One of the most popular options for schools, Elkay’s carbon block filters are making a case as the effective, efficient and affordable solution for helping to remove lead in water.

How do Elkay’s filters solve the lead problem?

Elkay’s WaterSentry filters are installed at the point of use. They are housed in a drinking fountain, water bottle filler, or vandal resistant retro-fit kit.  

The filter is tested and certified by the Public Health and Safety Organization (NSF) and the Water Quality Association (WQA) to NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 for the reduction of chlorine, taste and odor, particulate Class I, and lead.

In an average influent of 142 ppb lead levels, the WaterSentry Plus (used for bottle fillers) is rated to reduce amounts an average 99.3% (see full testing conditions here). For perspective, these influent testing conditions are almost 10x higher than the Environmental Protection Agency’s permissible levels of 15 ppb.  

Below is one example of a water test conducted in Boston Public Schools, where prefilter testing shows lead levels as high as 420 ppb, while post-filter lead levels are reduced well below EPA Standards to <0.50 ppb.

What are the alternatives to point-of-use filtration?

Previous to point-of-use filtration, schools have remediated their lead problem using either traditional pipe or fixture removal, or a flushing protocol.  

Pipe / Fixture Removal

If the goal is to remove lead from water, there is nothing more effective than removing it from the source. However, conducting a “profiling” method to identify the source of lead can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and take years to complete.

Why?

Lead in water could be derived from a number of locations. Sources could include the public distribution system (although rare), the service line (connects public street plumbing to building plumbing), and/or internal pipes or fixtures. As noted above, identifying and removing the lead from one of these sources can be quite uneconomical.

If budget and time are on your side, this could be the ideal solution. However, most U.S. schools, especially public, are unable to access the funding needed to remediate in this way.  

Flushing

A flushing protocol requires an assigned staff member to manually run the water from the tap usually about one minute, or however long the water line would require. This method literally flushes out the lead that was accumulating in the pipes between usages.  

The flushing option may be appealing to some schools because there are seemingly no new costs. However, someone from the schools staff will have to manage this project by spending about an hour or so each day before anyone begins drinking the water. Between this and the increased water bill, the economics are often the disadvantage of this option.

However, more important than the economics, new research out of Polytechnique Montreal in Quebec, Canada suggests that flushing is not necessarily safe. The study shows unsafe lead levels returning as soon as 15-20 minutes after flushing.  

Between the high costs of pipe removal remediation, and risk associated with flushing, the case is growing stronger for point-of-use filtration.  

Elkay’s water filters are a budget-friendly and financially predictable way to achieve cleaner, healthier water.

What maintenance is needed for Elkay’s filters?

In order to assure the filter is operating efficiently, it must be replaced properly and on time.  

How often should the filter be replaced?

A key benefit of the Elkay bottle filling station is its filter status indicator — a tricolor light that informs you when it’s time to change the filter.

The newest Enhanced models have an upgraded feature called FillSafe™. This update automatically stops dispensing water when the filter status light shows red, which means its reached 100% of its usage. Each WaterSentry Plus filter lasts 3,000 gallons, which usually sustains 6-12 months, or about 24,000 16-ounce bottle fills.  

How do I replace the filter?

Filters need to be replaced regularly in order to ensure the proper functioning of the unit. Fortunately, this process is simple and can take as little as five minutes to complete.

Begin by turning off the fountain or filler’s water supply and removing the machine’s lower cover to locate the current filter. Once located, Elkay’s Quick-Disconnect feature makes it easy to unscrew the current filter and replace it with a new one. For a step-by-step replacement overview and additional guidance, please refer to our Maintenance Guide.  

How much do Elkay filters cost?

Compared to pricey structural work or labor-intensive flushing, Elkay’s water filters are a budget-friendly and financially predictable way to achieve cleaner, healthier water. WaterSentry filters come in at about $65-$80 per unit per year, or approximately $.03 per gallon.

Can I turn my non-filtered fountain into a filtered one?

One of Elkay’s newest products is a vandal-resistant retrofit kit that allows you to convert your existing fountain or bottle filler from non filtered to filtered water. These systems are quite versatile as they can be mounted anywhere near the water line.

The EF1500VRBMC includes a filter status light making it easier to know when the filter needs to be replaced. Note that the capacity of these filters is 1,500 gallons and the filter replacement system is not the same as the one described for the bottle filling station. The filter used in the vandal resistant retrofit kit is the WaterSentry VII filter. Full usage details can be found here.

Moving Forward 

We hope that this product spotlight has been helpful. If you have any further questions, contact us at support@becausewater.org and one our support specialists will be happy to assist you.

The Health Dangers of Lead in School Drinking Water

The Health Dangers of Lead in School Drinking Water

by | Jul 11, 2018 | Lead in Water Problems

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July, 2018

A recent surge of awareness has struck the United State’s school system with a public health problem that many were led to believe was solved several decades ago. The problem is lead — a toxin that has entered the drinking water of an estimated 10-20% of public school systems in the US, according to Richard Maas, the former Co-director of the Environmental Quality Institute at the University of North Carolina-Asheville.

Lead is harmful to various aspects of human health, especially in children, and can result in lowered IQ, behavioral problems, and brain damage. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Given the severity and commonality of this issue, it is imperative that schools prioritize this immediately to ensure the safety and well-being of their students and staff.

How Does Lead Enter My School’s Water?

First, it is important to note that there is no direct federal law that mandates US schools to test their building’s water for lead. This may come as a surprise, but the only test required from a federal level is under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SWDA), which only covers the testing conducted at the local treatment center as well as a small number of random tests conducted throughout the community.

There are some policy changes occurring from a state and district level. For example, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo implemented legislation that requires every New York school district to test their water for lead. However, for most other schools, it’s their decision whether or not to test the water for unsafe levels of lead.

The challenge is identifying the source of lead, which typically derives from the distribution system, as opposed to the public water source. What’s most common is lead leaching into water from the service line (the intermediary pipe between the school building and public main), the internal pipes, or fixtures. While one can consume lead through a number of sources, the EPA estimates that about 20% or more of a person’s total exposure comes from drinking water.

What Are the Health Effects of Consuming Lead in Drinking Water?

It’s long been known that lead is a health toxin with a myriad of dangerous symptoms, especially to young children.

Lead is persistent and bioaccumulates in the body. Upon making its way into the body, it competes for absorption with calcium, where it is eventually sent to the brain, liver, kidney and bones before its final storing center in the teeth and bones.

When it reaches the brain, lead impacts the frontal cortex. And although the degree and symptoms of health effects vary based on age, sex and lead levels in the body, the clear constant is that lead interferes with memory storage, brain signals and cellular energy production, often resulting in behavior problems, life-threatening cognitive disabilities, and lower IQs.

The more researchers learn about lead and its negative effects to the brain, the more it’s being considered a serious problem.

The following is a list of some of the other potential health effects from lead consumption:

 

  • Compromised central nervous system.
  • Pica.
  • Mood disorders.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Death.
  • Probable carcinogenic effects.
  • Organ failure.
  • Convulsions.
  • Hearing loss.
  • Cramps.
  • Fatigue.
  • Flu-like symptoms.
  • Gastrointestinal problems.
  • Constipation.
  • Insomnia.

Who Is at the Greatest Risk?

Young Children, Infants and Fetuses

Lead levels that would have minimal damage to an adult can pose significant threats on a child. Children represent 80% of all lead-related disease, with a projected 600,000 cases of child cognitive disabilities.

Why are young children so vulnerable?

Children, compared to adults, absorb 4-5 times more lead from a given source. Lead exposure in children has been linked to the following health effects:

  • Damage to central and peripheral nervous system.
  • Learning disabilities.
  • Stunted growth.
  • Hearing loss.
  • Compromised blood cell function.
  • Lower IQ and hyperactivity.
  • Anemia
  • In rare cases, seizures, coma and death.

Much of these problems could be avoided if greater attention was placed on prevention, so perhaps the fact that there is an economic case may accelerate change.  A 1987 study reported that reducing lead levels below the Maximum Contamination Level (MCL) would save $400 million a year. A more recent cost-benefit report suggested a $17-$220 return for every dollar spent, which compares to the public health ROI of some vaccines.

Pregnant Mothers

Lead consumption is especially of concern for pregnant women because it can cascade to a newborn. Given that lead stores in the bones along with calcium, during pregnancy it leaves the bones as a material calcium to grow the bones of the fetus.

Lead can also spread through the placenta and breast milk and can result in the following health effects:

  • Stunted growth of fetus.
  • Premature birth.

Schools

There are many reasons why schools are at high risk for lead in drinking water exposure.

Unfortunately, much of the US public school system has been neglected in terms of funding, so should we expect anything different when we combine tight budgets, no federal testing regulation and an overall lack of awareness?

Unless they were built in 2014 or later, schools are not considered “lead free” by today’s latest EPA standards. Instead, their plumbing materials may contain dangerous levels of lead.  

Perhaps there is some positivity on the horizon as many states are addressing the lead issue by providing grants for lead testing and remediation.

How Can I Find Out If I’ve Consumed Lead?

If you’re looking to find out whether you’ve consumed lead, it is recommended to consult with a pediatrician for a complete evaluation.

Blood tests are the most common method and measures the amount of lead in your blood.

X-ray methods are also used for detecting lead in teeth or bones, but these practices are not yet widely accessible.

The CDC says that levels of lead detected in blood above 5 micrograms per deciliter are grounds for “blood lead level of concern” for children from the ages of 1-5 years. This standard recently became more stringent, as the previous threshold was marked at 10 micrograms per deciliter.  

The CDC also states that no medical treatment is recommended for children who have blood lead levels under 45 micrograms per deciliter.  

Can I Treat Lead Poisoning?

While there is no treatment for low levels of lead in the blood, there are some treatments available for very high levels of lead in the blood.

Chelation therapy is one method where the chemical attaches to the lead to prohibit the body from absorbing it. This treatment protects the peripheral organs, but most ministrations cannot reverse existing damage caused by lead.

Overall, lead treatment is of mitigation, as the ultimate solution is prevention.

How Can I Find Out If There’s Lead in My School’s Water?

There are multiple options to test your school’s water for lead.

It is becoming more common for districts to provide free or assisted water testing at schools. If this is not an option for your school, you can pursue other certified testing laboratories or independent testing kits.  

Moving Forward

The risk of health issues caused by lead in drinking water are not to be taken lightly. Ignoring the problem is no longer an option. We must now move forward utilizing professionals and practical solutions.

Concerned about lead in water in your school and unsure where to start?  

Contact us now at support@becausewater.org.  

Sources

EPA
Popular Science
CDC
CDC2
Water Research Center
WHO
Activebeat.
CBS: How risky?

How to Solve Your School’s Lead in Water Problem

How to Solve Your School’s Lead in Water Problem

by | Jul 11, 2018 | Lead in water

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JULY, 2018

“Lead is dangerous for children even in low levels and can permanently harm their developing brains and nervous systems.”

The crisis in Flint, Michigan has shined a spotlight on the public health hazards of lead in drinking water. Pressure has been placed on schools, institutions at high risk for lead, and where millions of children are vulnerable to its effects each day.

This guide will assist school and town stakeholders from the moment lead is discovered through the process of planning for long term success. In order to help you make the best decision for your school, we’ve considered efficacy, cost and labor.

How to interpret lead levels

 

Physicians, public health officials and the EPA all agree that no amount of lead exposure is safe. Lead is dangerous for children even in low levels and can permanently harm their developing brains and nervous systems. It is persistent and bioaccumulates, so early exposure is important to avoid.

Despite this consensus, the World Health Organization and European Union have both established a legal level of lead in water of 10 ppb. The EPA’s standard is even higher. The agency recommends action at any individual water outlet when the lead level is above 20 ppb. For public water systems as a whole, its action level is 15 ppb. Many schools that discover lead contamination use the EPA standard of 15 ppb.

The data is clear. Even exposure below 10 ppb is dangerous for children. We agree with the American Academy of Pediatrics: lead levels at each fountain and faucet must reach a standard of ≤1 ppb to be safe.

Immediate response to finding lead

 

Regardless of the long-term remediation method you choose, there are steps to take as soon as you discover high lead levels:

 

  • Remove access to contaminated water and post signage. Shut off water supply or physically disconnect unsafe fountains/sinks until lead levels are safe. Post signage at each fixture to provide clarification and education about the issue.
  • Contact your local water system and state departments of health and water. Local and state government will need to update their records and ensure that water treatment is appropriate. You can also contact the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 to report information and ask questions.
  • Provide notice to parents and school community. Being transparent about lead levels and school response plans gives credibility to schools and opens the door for beneficial community involvement toward a solution. Schools can use any method they believe will be effective at reaching their audience. Many schools post on their websites, send or email a letter to parents, or publish a letter in their local newspaper. For greatest transparency, posting online is recommended.
  • If necessary, provide water from an alternate source. If the main sources of drinking water are impacted, schools may need to rely on bottled water until the problem is resolved.

Remediation: The Options

 

Once the immediate risk is gone, it’s time to look into more permanent solutions. These solutions vary in 1) efficacy, 2) cost and 3) required labor. The right method may differ between school districts, or even between schools, depending on available resources.

Option 1: Finding and removing lead at the source

How it works:

Schools or contractors search for sources of lead, remove or bypass them, and conduct follow-up testing until tests show that lead concentrations have dropped to target levels (safest levels are ≤1 ppb). Schools should also clean fixture aerators and re-route any ground wires near pipes that may accelerate corrosion in risk areas for lead.

Likely places with lead include interior pipes, service lines, solder, fixture hardware, aerators, and water meters. Importantly, there may be areas of plumbing that are at risk of leaching lead into water as they age even if they are not yet posing a problem. It is important to check all of these potential sources of lead.

Creating a plumbing profile of your school will help you identify and keep track of high-risk areas for lead, make decisions about water supply and pipe materials, prioritize sample sites to effectively systematize testing, strategize for remediation, and inform parents and school staff about steps the school is taking.

A plumber can assess interior plumbing, while the local water supplier will have information about buildings’ service lines. Make sure that a plumber uses only lead-free solders and other materials in replacements, as is required by law.

How it stacks up:

Efficacy: This method can be up to 100% effective and permanent if done thoroughly. In practice, however, it may fall short of achieving safe lead levels. For example, after Newton, MA’s remediation efforts in 2016 many school fixtures still tested at up to 10 ppb.

Cost: Costs are generally very high. They will vary depending on the extent of existing lead contamination and potential future sources of lead contamination that should be removed. If the source of lead is difficult to find, testing costs could also quickly add up at $20-$80 per sample. For Cleveland Public Schools in 2016, testing alone throughout 69 buildings cost over $390,000.

For example, simply replacing drinking fountains (at $500-$1500 each plus installation costs) will be much less expensive than excavating to replace a building service line (which, in addition to costing thousands of dollars, could run into unexpected costs, such as any building structural components blocking access).

Labor: This will also generally be high, with some variation. However, testing, construction, and installations can be accomplished by an independent contractor and are not necessarily reliant on school personnel

Option 2: Flushing (NOT RECOMMENDED)  

How it works:

School staff manually flush each source of drinking water for 1-2 minutes at the start of each day. This method is not recommended due to liability, installation, and maintenance costs.

Many schools (including dozens on this list from Massachusetts) report that they flush their taps to reduce lead, but do not report any other actions. This puts the health and safety of students and staff at great risk.

How it stacks up:

Efficacy: This method has proven as risky so efficacy is very questionable. It faces the risk of human error, since it is dependent on daily attention. Additionally, new research has surfaced out of Polytechnique Montreal in Quebec, Canada that shows unsafe lead levels returning as soon as 15-20 minutes after flushing.

Cost: In the short-term, flushing costs include labor and an increase in the utilities bill.

Labor: Labor for this method is intensive. It will be approximately equal to: one minute per tap times the number of taps, times the salary of the person flushing.

Option 3:  Filtration

How it works:

Certified point-of-use filter systems can remove on average 99.3% of lead from drinking water without the need for time-consuming efforts to find and remove lead from infrastructure.

The filters need to be periodically replaced, usually about once per year. However, it is recommended to consider your schools frequency of usage, as developing your own filter maintenance plan will assure you’re achieving the most efficacy. Learn more about proper filter maintenance in schools here.

In 2016, Washington, D.C. tested water throughout its public schools and found lead contamination above 15 ppb in 64 buildings. The district government installed filters at every water source in those schools. After seeing how effective filtration is, the government changed its lead standard to 1 ppb and has since installed filters at every water source in every school in the district.

If you decide filtration is an appropriate solution for your school, take a look at the list of the 5 Most Popular Bottle Filling Stations for Schools to find the filler that best fits your needs.

How it stacks up:

Efficacy: Filtration can be quite effective if implemented properly. The filters used by Elkay’s bottle fillers, for example, are NSF/ANSI 42/53 certified. They reduce on average 99.3% of lead in the conditions listed here. They also reduce aesthetic chlorine, taste and odor, and particulate class I.

According to Elkay®, the WaterSentry Plus filter used in bottle fillers filters has a 3000 gallon capacity. This capacity can extend upwards of one year of completely safe water for most bottle fillers.

Cost: Retrofitting or replacing drinking fountains will be much less expensive than traditional pipe removal remediation.

Elkay’s vandal resistant retrofit kids can connect to existing fountain locations for under $300 per station (not including installation).

A complete, new system may cost approximately $800-$1,500 per unit, plus installation. Each system will come with one replacement filter, and additional filters cost approximately $65-75 each. In total, this solution is significantly cheaper than pipe replacement.

Labor:  Labor is required for installation and about 5-10 minutes worth of periodic filter replacement per unit. Most bottle fillers have an easily accessible compartment that houses the filter where the existing filter can be removed and the replacement popped in.

 

Other EPA-recommended actions in the long term:

 

After choosing and implementing a remediation strategy for lead in water, schools should set up systems for long-term safety.

  • Make sure that testing and record-keeping systems are in order. A school plumbing profile can help keep track of high-risk sites for lead and organize testing and record-keeping protocols. Accurate fixture IDs and exact protocols for testing best practices are also useful for communicating within the school district and with outside contractors. Testing consistency is important for accurate results.
  • Have a plan for future testing. Make sure that the staff responsible for working with contractors, testing laboratories, records, maintaining signage, or educating students are well-informed and familiar with both safety and legal guidelines. It is important to check both federal and state laws.
  • Communicate the problem to staff, families and the surrounding community. When it comes to the serious nature of lead poisoning, transparency is imperative to generating viable solutions and creating an awareness of the problem. Newsletters, informational meetings and letters to local media are all good ways to get the word out and ensure everyone is in the loop.
  • Educate staff and students. Even for those not directly involved with implementation or maintenance of lead responses, it is useful to be informed and aware of the problems that lead can pose.

Finding lead in drinking water can be a concerning and confusing moment, but these best practices can act as a starting point to ensuring schools provide healthy environments for all students and staff.

Want to learn more?

Contact us now at support@becausewater.org.