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High Lead Levels Found In Water At 2 Tacoma Elementary Schools

Rich Pedroncell
/
AP Photo
Across the country, public water systems have grappled with lead levels unsafe for drinking. In this photo, tape covers the spout and a sign warns students not to use this water fountain at Foothill Intermediate School in Loma Rica, Calif.

Drinking fountains are now off limits at two elementary schools in Tacoma after tests revealed high levels of lead in the water. District officials had this information available to them for almost a year, but only looked at it for the first time late last week.

The schools are Mann Elementary and Reed Elementary.The district sent out an email and a phone message to all affected families.

District officials said, “Tacoma Public Schools contracts for tests of water supplies at several elementary schools each year on a rotational basis. Late Friday night, this review uncovered two test reports from May 2015 that showed higher than acceptable levels of lead at Mann and Reed elementary schools. These reports had not been previously reviewed.”

The district does not have a clear answer as to why these results from last May weren’t looked over when they first came in.

Leslie Cooley, the president of the Parent Teacher Association at Reed Elementary School said after she listened to the message from the district she thought the district was, “worried about the kids and their health, but not too worried to have fixed it a year ago.”

District officials said recent testing by the Tacoma Public Utilities revealed high lead levels in sections of pipe connecting older homes to the main water system and that those results prompted the review of tests that were conducted at schools last year.

Meanwhile, Reed and Mann Elementary Schools are being supplied with bottled water. The district is looking over all past water-testing data and will be conducting new tests at middle and high schools. The district is setting up a website that will share up to date information with families and school staff.

Jennifer Wing is a former KNKX reporter and producer who worked on the show Sound Effect and Transmission podcast.