Some of California’s Bay Area Schools Test Positive for Lead in Drinking Water

San Francisco’s KALW published the article, “Persistent Poison: Lead in School Drinking Water.” The report is one part of a series about lead hazards in the Bay Area. According to the article, although the main source of lead poisoning for the regions children is due to the past use of lead-based paints, in the last year, a number of local schools have discovered lead issues in their drinking water.

The article shares that while most Bay Area schools had lead levels in their water of below 15 parts per billion, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) action level, some were higher. One reportedly had almost 60 times the maximum recommended amount. This lead doesn’t typically come from natural drinking water sources. It usually is a result of leaching that occurs when water passes through older plumbing fixtures or solder that contains lead.

“More schools are discovering they have lead issues due to a new state law that went into effect earlier this year,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “It requires community water system to test lead levels, by July of next year, in drinking water at all California public, K-12 school sites constructed before January 1, 2010. This is great news because although the presence of elevated levels of lead in drinking water can be a health threat to anyone, this is especially true for children. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Even low levels of lead in blood have been shown to affect IQ, ability to pay attention and academic achievement.”

Lead found in the drinking water of schools is also a reminder to homeowners and business owners that these same contamination issues could occur in their residential or commercial properties. California residents concerned about the water they are exposed to can turn to LA Testing for comprehensive lead testing services, all of the sampling supplies necessary and an easy-to-use Drinking Water Test Kit. LA Testing has even sponsored an educational video about lead in drinking water that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/1MhhreaWOv8.

To learn more about lead or other environmental testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email  info@LATesting.com  or call (800) 755-1794. For access to the Drinking Water Test Kit, visit www.WaterTestKitEMSL.com.

About LA Testing

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals.  In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC Elite, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states.  LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

Contact via E-mail