Elevated lead levels found in water at 6 Boston Public School buildings
The fountains were turned off and replaced with bottled water coolers.
Elevated lead levels were found in water samples taken at six more Boston Public School buildings during summer testing, according to an announcement from officials Tuesday.
The water fountains at the affected buildings have been shut off and replaced with bottled water coolers.
The seven affected schools, which are housed in six buildings are: the Patrick Lyndon K-8; Lee Academy; Josiah Quincy Elementary; Boston Latin School; F. Lyman Winship Elementary; and Jeremiah E. Burke High/Dearborn STEM Academy.
During testing, the consulting firm hired by BPS found at least one water fountain with lead concentrations exceeding 15 parts per billion, which is the state’s limit for lead levels in school drinking water. The seven schools had been previously tested this past spring.
“These new results, indicating higher levels, are likely due to testing conditions in the summer that did not reflect typical fountain usage during the school year,” Superintendent Tommy Chang said in a letter sent to the school community Tuesday. “Nevertheless, out of an abundance of caution and following the policy mentioned above, we immediately deactivated all water fountains in these seven schools and replaced them with bottled water coolers.”
This spring, school officials shut down water fountains in a number of schools across the district due to elevated lead levels. The district updated its water policy in response, and now requires annual testing of all water sources used for drinking, food preparation, or medical services in all schools.
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