High Lead Levels In Schools’ Water Gets Quick Action

COLD SPRING – The Lower Township Elementary School District issued a letter Jan. 31 notifying parents and staff that high levels of lead had been detected in some drinking water faucets in Maud Abrams and David C. Douglass Memorial Elementary schools. 
The letter and test results were immediately posted on the school district’s website.
Maud Abrams
Maud Abrams School was found to have lead levels higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard of 15 ug/l (micrograms per liter) PPB (parts per billion) at 12 locations out of a total of 42 sources tested throughout the school. The test results ranged from one faucet that recorded 16.9 parts per billion (1.9 PPB over the accepted 15 PPB standard), to another outdoor faucet that recorded 470 parts per billion (455 PPB over the accepted standard).
Where water is necessary, but for non-drinking purposes, signs will be posted warning that the water is unsafe for drinking, and can be used only for washing hands.
Douglass Memorial
The David Douglass Memorial Elementary school was found to have three of 45 faucets that exceeded the EPA standard; the highest reading at that school was 65.5 PPB.
Where water is necessary, but for non-drinking purposes, signs will be posted warning that the water is unsafe for drinking, and can be used only for washing hands.
Superintendent Jeffrey Samaniego, of the Lower Township Elementary School District, stated that a new state Department of Education water testing protocol was enacted July 13, 2016, which mandated that all schools test drinking water for lead contamination before July 13, 2017.
Samaniego stated that all faucets that tested higher than the EPA standard were shut off within five hours of notification by Coastal Environmental, the testing company used for the project.
Samaniego confirmed that the elementary school district receives its water from the Lower Township Municipal Utilities Authority, but at this point they cannot determine why the lead levels are high in some test points.
Samaniego stated that the next step was to re-test the water at those same sites Feb. 4 in two modes, standing water, and running water conditions.
If the levels are still too high, the district will look at plumbing as well as the water source to isolate and correct the problem.
He emphasized that on Feb. 1, the district initiated the letter of notification to parents and staff, conducted a robot phone call to alert parents and staff, and posted all information on the website. Samaniego anticipates that water testing results at both Charles Sandman School and Carl Mitnick schools should be available by next week.
As a precaution, the water faucets at those schools will be shut until those results become available.
MUA Executive Director Michael Chapman and Water/Sewer Superintendent Craig Loper of the Lower Township MUA spoke with the Herald regarding the results of the lead testing conducted at the Lower Township Elementary School District.
Loper stated that the 15 parts per billion standard used by the state Department of Education is the same federal standard the MUA uses to test township water. 
Both Loper and Chapman studied the results of the testing at the two schools. They concluded that because the results at each test point (faucet) at each school varied so much, that the issue is most probably a result of lead pipes in the facilities or the existence of lead in solder. That material may have been used many years ago to repair water pipes before the substance was banned from plumbing use in the 1980s. 
Loper further explained that the EPA requires the MUA to test township water for lead and copper contaminants in at least 60 sites in the municipality every three years.
The last test of municipal water occurred in 2015. Loper added that specific testing at school buildings in the township was never part of the township testing protocol until the recent regulations issued by the state Department of Education required it. 
“We follow (Department of Environmental Protection) rules regarding test sites” stated Chapman.
Both said that the MUA would coordinate with and assist all parties concerned until the situation is resolved.
Regional District
Superintendent Christopher Kobik of the Lower Cape May Regional School District was also contacted for an update on the status of his district’s water system.
Kobik stated that the water for the regional district (grades sixth through 12) is not provided by the MUA; a private well system supplies the schools.
He stated that the district’s water was last tested for lead in September or October 2016 and found to be within acceptable limits; that testing protocol is consistent with the state Department of Education mandate of July 2016.
Kobik added, “At this time we can only hope that our results are OK.” “If they are not, we will take immediate and appropriate steps to address the issue if it arises.”
To contact Jim McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.