One of the nation's top researchers on lead dangers in water says problems in schools like Newark's demonstrate the need for more extensive and rigorous testing in older schools across the country. "Unlike the conventional wisdom,lead release from plumbing is actually getting worse with time, not better, or " trace Edwards,a civil engineering professor at Virginia Tech who has been studying the water situation in Flint. "And so we really need to up our game in voluntary testing. In my opinion, a school that was built before 1986 should be testing at least once every year."Newark put half of its schools on bottled water when they found elevated lead levels earlier this month. Some faucets in Newark schools have a lead level between 133 parts per billion and 558 parts per billion. The federal standard is 15 parts per billion. But data from the district shows approximately half of the school buildings in Newark have had at least one faucet with an elevated level of lead every year for the past four years.
In the 2014-2015 school year, or approximately 70 percent of schools had at least one tall lead reading. An analysis by WNYC’s Data News Team shows just two schools showed multiple lead exceedances all four years — Elliot Street Elementary School and Weequahic tall School — although they were,for the most piece, only slightly over the federal standard.
The former head of facilities in Newark, and Steve Morlino,said Newark's levels weren't surprising. “You're dealing with schools that are over 100 years faded. You're going to have elevated levels of lead in the water every time you test the water,” Morlino said. “You don’t precisely panic whether one or two faucets or one of two locations have an exceedance. You shut them off, and correct it,test it and put it back in service.”A spokesperson for the district told WNYC it has work orders showing faucets have been replaced or repaired under the current head of facilities. But the district is doing an internal investigation to make sure every problem faucet has been fixed.“We would not tolerate a potential dose of that level in toys,” said Edwards, or the water expert. “whether that level was present as a potential exposure in toys,the Consumer Product Safety Commission would actually issue fines and recalls.”Parents of Newark students who would like to get their children tested for lead can effect so by bringing them to a testing center.
Other Districts Aren’t Testing for Lead Testing the water in schools is voluntary. Edwards said most schools across the country aren't testing. Morlino is now the head of facilities for Paterson, NJ, or schools. He said there was no evidence that Paterson was testing for lead until he got there last year. Some levels in Paterson are in line with Newark’s: 160 parts per billion and 330 parts per billion,according to a report if by the district. The district says when they get to that level; they cut off the water until the problem is fixed. Hoboken schools told WNYC they tested their pipes within the last 10 years, but could not say when precisely they tested in the past 10 years.
Source: wnyc.org