Advocates for public and environmental health call for quick action to remove the lead
For immediate release
BOSTON — School water contamination by lead is more widespread than previously thought, according the latest testing data from across the country published Thursday by Environment America Research & Policy Center. Interactive map. These groups urged officials to swiftly take action to get lead out of schools’ drinking water.
“Most schools have fountains, faucets, pipes, or plumbing made of lead,” he said. John RumplerEnvironment America Research & Policy Center clean water program director. It is alarming to see this toxic substance in the water that our children drink every day, but it is not surprising.
The new map showed that the majority of states with the most data had at least one lead-contaminated tap in over half of the schools tested. In some states, more than 70% have confirmed instances lead contamination.
Researchers believe that school water is more lead-contaminated than the data suggests. Even though lead is toxic to children in very low levels, some states only published test results with lead concentrations greater than five or fifteen parts per billion. Some states used sampling methods less likely to detect contamination or tested only a few taps at schools. Due to the high level of lead corrosion, no single water sample can capture the entire risk to kids drinking water.
Public health and environmental advocacy groups urge public officials to immediately take action to remove lead from school drinking water, rather than waiting for more tests. With unprecedented federal funding, states and school district now have the ability to replace lead-bearing fountains in their schools with water stations equipped with filters that remove lead.
Many states, including Missouri, Colorado and Michigan, are considering bills that would require filters to be installed on school drinking water taps. Locally, activists are urging school boards to take immediate action in several communities, including Houston and Atlanta, as well as Atlantic County, New Jersey.
We believe that our children deserve safe drinking water wherever they go to learn and play every day. Emily RogersZero Out Toxics advocate at U.S. PIRG Education Fund. We hope this map serves to call us to action, helping to eliminate lead from school drinking water.