Dozens of Arizona public schools have been taking action since state officials discovered elevated lead levels in water fixtures.
Almost half the schools continue to test for harmful levels or repair affected fixtures.
According to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, approximately 96 percent of Arizona’s public schools did not have lead level problems. However, the agency noted that water fixtures in 158 schools needed to repaired or replaced because of lead levels higher than government standards.
To make the water safe until the problem is addressed, it is recommended the schools run water through drinking fountains and faucets for several minutes.
A source from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, Trevor Baggiore, says the exposure is cumulative and continual exposure would create a larger risk for students and teacher.
Lead consumption can cause numerous problems. One of the impacts of lead is it causes learning and behavioral problems. This is especially an issue with children younger than 6, as this is when brain development occurs at a rapid rate.
Despite the increased lead levels, Arizona has not experienced water-contamination cases that led to elevated lead levels in the bloodstream.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the schools volunteered for water testing and to resolve the problem. The Safe Drinking Water Act requires water to be tested for quality, but schools are not regulated by it if they do not supply their own water.
However, after numerous discoveries of contaminated water, the ADEQ began testing at Arizona’s public schools.
The testing discovered a couple locations at each affected school that needed to be repaired. After the repair, samples were taken to ensure the quality of the water.
Half of the sites of the largest school district in Arizona, Mesa Public Schools, is dealing with lead levels that exceed the standard. The district has repaired the majority of the fixtures, and all affected fixtures will soon be addressed.
Parents and students have been provided with information to better understand the effects of high lead levels, and the district’s website keeps them informed of repairs.
The repairs are monitored by the Arizona School Facility. As of Feb. 20, 71 schools still needed to be confirmed as repaired.
There are 11 schools that need to be repaired in Scottsdale Unified School District, and none of the schools have been marked complete.
Only one school, W.F. Killip Elementary, in the Flagstaff Unified School District needed pipes replaces.
The tests were funded by the state of Arizona, but school districts are responsible for the costs of repair. However, schools can apply for grants to help with funding.