By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
Water tests at Johnson Park Elementary School found elevated levels of lead and copper in a sample taken from a sink in a staff room and elevated copper in a sample from an outdoor fountain, the school district reported this week.
The district said it had a contractor test the water at all six of its schools over spring break from March 26 to April 4, with the only problem reported at the elementary school. Results at Johnson Park for those two locations were higher than the permitted level set by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, but there were no calls for students or staff to get tested.
In an undated message posted on the district web site, Superintendent of Schools Stephen C. Cochrane said water was shut off to both faucets, although officials believe the problem is not widespread throughout the school.
“We have already replaced the faucet in the staff room and are working now on fixing the exterior fountain,” his statement read. “We will then retest at those locations to see if the contaminant levels are reduced.”
Municipal health officer Jeffrey Grosser said Tuesday that he had met with school staff on Monday to discuss the situation and answer questions. He said adults don’t absorb lead like children do, and the likelihood of it in their blood is low.
“We answered any questions and put things in context,” said Mr. Cochrane by phone Wednesday.
In the statement issued by the district, Mr. Grosser said the water coming into the district is within acceptable levels.
Mr. Cochrane said that as a precautionary step, the district would replace each faucet in that part of Johnson Park built in 1959, prior to 1986 regulations dealing with the types of material used in faucet construction. He said 13 faucets would be replaced, although no firm cost amount at this point.
There may be additional testing at the school “to expand the number of samples we have access to.” During the initial testing, 10 samples were taken from Johnson Park.
As a precautionary measure, the district decided to test for water in response to the crisis involving lead in the water in the Newark public schools. Going forward, Mr. Cochrane said officials have discussed doing testing every year.
“We’re trying to consider that,” he said.
