FORT WORTH (WBAP/KLIF News) – Hundreds of drinking fountains in Fort Worth schools are being replaced after unsafe levels of lead were discovered during testing of the water.
School officials don’t believe any kids were in danger. They said the problem likely surfaced as the water sat in the fountains this Summer.
It is expected to cost about $800,000 dollars to replace the fountains.
Officials said the new fountains will be in place when school starts on Aug. 22.
Press release from Fort Worth ISD:
This summer the Fort Worth ISD, in a proactive initiative, partnered with the City of Fort Worth Water Department to measure the impact of lead in school drinking water.
“Recent national news stories have emphasized the need for all of us to be aware of potential issues that can be an impediment to a child’s ability to learn and to their health,” said Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Dr. Kent P. Scribner. “Our testing program has provided us with important information that we will be sharing with our families, employees and the general community.”
There is no local, state or federal requirement to test school drinking water for lead contamination. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines recommend schools take action when water samples show 20 parts per billion of lead. The Fort Worth ISD, in an abundance of caution, is using the lower number of 15 parts per billion as an action level for making changes.
Initial sampling and testing of drinking water at Fort Worth ISD schools indicated that some lead levels exceeded recommended EPA levels. In many instances retesting showed that flushing the lines (many of which had been dormant over the summer months) improved the test result to more acceptable levels.
“Testing allowed us to identify older style water fixtures, such as water fountains, that were causing some higher than expected sampling levels,” said District Chief of Operations Art Cavazos. “We have begun a program of removing and replacing those fixtures across the District. Our subsequent sampling has shown this to be an effective measure to return lead levels to below the recommended EPA action levels.”
The District will make all testing data available to parents, guardians and the general public as the data becomes available. Immediate remedial actions taken by the Fort Worth ISD in those cases where drinking water sources exceeded the recommended action level (15 ppb):
* Identified the potential source of the contamination (water service lines, older style water fountains, certain types of faucets, connectors or solder)
* Removed or replaced the potential source of contamination (water fountains, for example)
* If removal is not possible, water service to that source (faucet, for example) will be shut off.
* Tested other water sources in close proximity to the disconnected source to ensure no cross-contamination
* Implemented a daily “flushing” program by custodial personnel before the school day begins
* Re-emphasized the need for faucet “flushing” in food preparation areas
Lead exposure can come from a variety of sources. Older homes may contain lead water service lines, or fixtures or solder that contains lead. Lead-based paint is often found in older homes or multi-family complexes. Soil in and around older factories or industrial areas, as well as wind-blown dust from those areas, may be contaminated with lead.
Additional sources of information regarding lead contamination may be found at:
City of Fort Worth Department – http://fortworthtexas.gov/water/ Tarrant County Public Health – http://access.tarrantcounty.com/en/public-health.html Texas Department of State Health Services – https://www.dshs.texas.gov/info/ Environmental Protection Agency – https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/lead-drinking-water-schools-and-child-care-facilities Centers for Disease Control – http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/
