In recent weeks, millions of children across the United States have returned to school. Yet, many of them are faced with the challenge of having safe water to drink while at school. The U.S. Government Accountability Office, in a recent report, found that “that fewer than half of the nation’s schools tested for lead in 2016 – and among these schools, about 37 percent identified elevated levels of lead.”[1] The frightening reality is that “there is no federal requirement for schools to test their water supply.”[2]
In addition to antiquated equipment, drinking water in schools is more likely to have to lead contamination because “they are frequently left unused during weekends and breaks. And the longer that water stands in pipes containing lead or lead soldering, the more likely lead will leech into the water supply.”[3] The problem has been highlighted in recent news surrounding the Detroit Public Schools. After results of testing came back that 16 out of 24 schools tested earlier this year “had water sources tainted with excessive levels of lead, copper, or both,” Superintendent Nikolai P. Vitti decided to shut off the water at all schools, stating, “Now that we’re seeing these higher levels of lead and copper, there’s no need to roll the dice.”[4] Additionally, 18 schools had been identified the prior year, and their drinking water had already been shut off.[5]
With water quality at schools being a highly debated issue, it is surprising to know that only eight states currently mandate water testing.[6] However, some school districts are taking the matter of testing into their own hands. In June 2016, the Warren County (Kentucky) school system took a proactive approach and decided to work with Bowling Green Municipal Utilities “after the utility reached out to provide information on the possibility of developing a lead testing program.”[7] Remediation efforts that schools took included removing fountains from service, replacing plumbing parts that contained lead, and simply running the water for a bit to flush the pipes.[8]
The issue is one that many school districts face across the nation. Addressing the issue, which most often means replacing aging infrastructure, will take years and will costs school districts millions of dollars. In Portland, Oregon, “voters approved a bond that provided nearly $30 million to address issues related to water testing of its school district.”[9] Countrywide, districts face funding shortfalls and are continuously faced with making decisions about priorities. Without mandated testing, many schools will continue on with the “ignorance is bliss” mindset. The unfortunate outcome of not testing is the potentially hazardous effect the lead has on our children.
[1] Eggers, Caroline. “Effort Mixed to Remove Lead from School Water.” Bowling Green Daily News, 26 Aug. 2018, www.bgdailynews.com/news/effort-mixed-to-remove-lead-from-school-water/article_e89af429-344d-58b8-99fd-edff282dd485.html.
[2] Eggers, Caroline. “Effort Mixed to Remove Lead from School Water.” Bowling Green Daily News, 26 Aug. 2018, www.bgdailynews.com/news/effort-mixed-to-remove-lead-from-school-water/article_e89af429-344d-58b8-99fd-edff282dd485.html
[3] Eggers, Caroline. “Effort Mixed to Remove Lead from School Water.” Bowling Green Daily News, 26 Aug. 2018, www.bgdailynews.com/news/effort-mixed-to-remove-lead-from-school-water/article_e89af429-344d-58b8-99fd-edff282dd485.html
[4] Fortin, Jacey. “Detroit Schools Turn Off Drinking Water, Citing Elevated Lead and Copper.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 30 Aug. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/08/30/us/detroit-schools-water-copper-lead.html.
[5] Higgins, Lori. “Not Just Detroit: Lead in Drinking Water Plagues Schools Nationwide.” Detroit Free Press, Detroit Free Press, 17 Sept. 2018, www.freep.com/story/news/education/2018/09/14/lead-water-problems-schools-nationwide/1215042002/.
[6]“More Than 40 Percent of U.S. Schools Fail to Test for Lead in Drinking Water.” EWG Tap Water Database, July 2018, www.ewg.org/release/more-40-percent-us-schools-fail-test-lead-drinking-water#.W6E4M-hKiUk.
[7]Eggers, Caroline. “Effort Mixed to Remove Lead from School Water.” Bowling Green Daily News, 26 Aug. 2018, www.bgdailynews.com/news/effort-mixed-to-remove-lead-from-school-water/article_e89af429-344d-58b8-99fd-edff282dd485.html
[8] Delaney, Arthur. “Most Public Schools Aren’t Even Checking For Lead In The Water.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 19 July 2018, www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/public-schools-water-lead_us_5b50d229e4b0fd5c73c35264.
[9] Higgins, Lori. “Not Just Detroit: Lead in Drinking Water Plagues Schools Nationwide.” Detroit Free Press, Detroit Free Press, 17 Sept. 2018, www.freep.com/story/news/education/2018/09/14/lead-water-problems-schools-nationwide/1215042002/.
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