California School District ‘Did Not Communicate’ Presence of Lead in Water to Families
The Unified Oakland School District sent a letter to families explaining that they’re in the process of replacing problematic fixtures
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Stock image of a school water fountain.A California school district said it didn’t notify families about the presence of lead in the water supply, which could impact more than 45,000 students.
The Oakland Unified School District in Northern California sent a letter home to families explaining that they hadn’t notified them earlier about the lead, which was found in nearly 200 drinking fountains and water faucets.
"Despite our attention to detail and care for our sites, we did not communicate effectively to the members of each school community as the testing launched, as we received the results, and as fixes were being implemented," said the letter, via NBC News.
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Stock image of children washing their hands in a school bathroom.Related: At Least 22 Toddlers in 14 States Sickened by Lead in Applesauce Pouches
"We are putting systems in place to ensure a lack of effective communication does not occur again, and that school communities receive quick notice when this kind of testing is taking place on their campuses," the letter said, according to NBC News.
According to the outlet, the school district — which is the 11th largest in the state with more than 45,000 students — had tested the fixtures for lead concentrations of more than 5 parts per billion (ppb).
That baseline is lower than state and federal guidelines of 15 ppb.
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The investigation found that 116 fixtures tested at more than 5 ppb and less than 15 ppb; and 70 fixtures tested at levels beyond the state and federal standards of 15 ppb.
Lead exposure is dangerous for children, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
“Even low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in behavior and learning problems,” the agency says, adding that it can cause lower IQ and hyperactivity, slowed growth, hearing problems, and anemia.
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The Oakland Unified School District holds a meeting in 2022.Related: Zendaya Returned to Her Hometown to Surprise Students and Donate School Supplies
The agency also notes, “Lead can enter drinking water when plumbing materials that contain lead corrode, especially where the water has high acidity or low mineral content that corrodes pipes and fixtures.”
The school district's statement said that "61 fixtures have been fixed so far" and that the process is still ongoing, according to NBC News.
"Nearly half of schools discovered lead in their drinking water," the National Association of State Boards of Education said — noting that not all states test their water.
Only 13 states have policies in place to test school water supplies for lead, the NASBE says — and no states have policies in place to test for lead paint.
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