State agencies to help schools reduce lead in drinking water

Oregon’s education and health agencies said Wednesday they recommend all school districts and child care programs test drinking water this summer, as part of a statewide plan to reduce student exposure to lead.

The plan, developed by the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Health Authority, is in response to Governor Kate Brown’s April directive to the agencies to review water quality in schools and develop recommendations.

ODE, with the support of health experts at OHA, said they will work collaboratively with school districts and child care programs to implement the plan this summer. The agencies will provide information and technical support to schools and child care programs. (Earlier this week, the agencies sent a fact sheet to guide administrators who are already conducting testing.)

“Children are especially susceptible to lead exposure because their bodies absorb metals at higher rates than adults,” Governor Brown said. “In addition, schools are not included when water systems test for lead as required by the Environmental Protection Agency, meaning that a water system may be deemed to have safe lead levels overall, while water quality at schools remains unknown. This must change.”

Salam Noor, PhD, deputy superintendent of public instruction, said: “I know superintendents, administrators, educators and school facilities staff across the state are concerned about lead in drinking water. We want to give them the tools and support they need to keep students safe from lead.”

*Joint plan helps close water testing gap in schools*

Most Oregon school and child care programs get their drinking water from municipal or community water systems. All municipal or community water systems must regularly test water at specific numbers of home taps to ensure that the water meets requirements for lead levels at the tap. However, schools and child care programs are not subject to required testing, unless a school district maintains its own water supply. The joint OHA-ODE plan addresses this regulatory gap.

Outdated plumbing systems in school buildings can leach lead into the water students and school staff drink during the school day. The joint ODE-OHA plan is designed to ensure that water in school fountains and taps meets the same lead restrictions municipalities are required to meet. Lead is a neurotoxin that is harmful to people of all ages, particularly young children who are vulnerable to developmental and learning problems due to lead exposure.

*State agency actions will reduce lead risks in schools and day care centers*

Under the plan, ODE and OHA intend to:
— Drinking water testing: Recommend all school districts and child care programs test for lead in their facilities this summer and take corrective action where necessary.
— Certified laboratories: Recommend schools use certified drinking water testing labs to process water samples for lead.
— Reportable results: Require certified laboratories to report lead levels in school and day care drinking water to OHA.
— Online database: Develop a database and a method to transfer lead test records from labs, schools and school districts to OHA. ODE and OHA will collaborate to make results available to the public in an accurate and accessible online format. The database will be available later this fall.
— Health expertise: Provide technical assistance on lead and other environmental health issues to schools and day care centers as needed.

Lynne Saxton, Director of the Oregon Health Authority said: “Lead in school drinking water is a high-priority health issue. These steps will help schools and child care programs keep harmful levels of lead out of their fountains, taps and sinks. In addition, the plan will give families, school staff and community members more transparent, accurate and readily accessible information about lead testing results.”

*Statewide lead testing plan launches this summer*

This summer, OHA and ODE will work with school districts and child care programs to implement the plan. Working collaboratively with educators, the agencies will:
— Work with schools: Convene meetings with school district superintendents, school boards and school facilities managers to discuss the recommendations and requirements and provide technical support to implement the plan.
— Inform day care centers: Early Learning Division staff will educate child care programs about testing recommendations and corrective actions that these programs can take to reduce exposure among young children.
— Review current testing: Communicate with school districts and child care programs to assess current testing programs and procedures.