By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR — Elevated lead levels have been found in drinking fountains and faucets in five of the 10 schools in the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District, according to school district officials.
The district was notified of the elevated levels of lead in the drinking water sources on April 15, said David Aderhold, the superintendent of schools. The district’s environmental consultant, PARS Environmental Inc., tested the water in all of the school buildings during spring recess.
“As instructed by PARS Environmental, (the school district) immediately shut off the water to the identified drinking fountains and water faucets, pending results of a second sample and (an) official written report,” Mr. Aderhold wrote in a statement posted on the school district’s website.
The findings are preliminary, Mr. Aderhold wrote. A written report has not been issued because all of the results have not been received from the laboratory that tested the water. Once the final written report has been issued, it will be posted on the school district’s website.
PARS Environmental Inc. tested the water in 130 locations. Of the 115 results that have been received, 110 had acceptable levels. Five locations had lead concentrations of more than 15 parts per billion in the water sample — the threshold amount that health officials consider harmful.
Test results showed elevated lead concentrations in water faucets in one classroom each at Village school and Grover Middle School; bubblers in a classroom at the Maurice Hawk Elementary School and the faculty lounge at Dutch Neck Elementary School, and a water fountain near the library at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South.
There were no reports of elevated lead levels at Community Middle School, Wicoff Elementary School, Millstone River School and Town Center Elementary School. Results for West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North have not been received.
PARS Environmental Inc. advised school district officials that because of the relatively low lead concentrations in the affected schools and the non-detectable results at the other schools, it is possible that the affected locations were not flushed or flushed properly prior to the samples being taken.
The five affected water fountains, bubblers and faucets will be retested this week. Once the sample results have been received and analyzed, PARS Environmental Inc. will make further recommendations, if necessary.
“The health and safety of our students and staff is our greatest priority,” Mr. Aderhold wrote. “We will work with local officials and the environmental consultant to ensure that appropriate remedial actions are taken.”
