The following was distributed to the Wayland Schools’ email list by Superintendent Paul Stein and Public Buildings Director Ben Keefe :
We are writing to inform you about our ongoing efforts to reduce potential exposure to lead and copper in drinking water at our school buildings. This past fall, the district partnered with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) as part of a statewide program to conduct extensive testing of the water throughout each of our school buildings. This program, funded entirely by the state, allowed us to simultaneously test all water fixtures – where previously we were testing on a three year cycle.
On December 10, samples were collected from all taps and fixtures used for drinking, cooking and medical uses at all the schools. Samples were taken at each tap or fixture for both a first draw sample with the water standing in the tap overnight as well as a flushed sample after the tap was run. For information on sample collection procedures for school samples please see: http://www.mass.gov/eea/
To date, we have received testing results from Happy Hollow Elementary School, Wayland Middle School, and The Children’s Way, as follows:
- Happy Hollow: Out of 47 locations, samples from sink faucets in two rooms (Room 5 and the ARC room) had lead levels that exceeded the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, “action level for lead in drinking water at schools and child care facilities.” Both samples tested below this limit after the flushed sample was taken and, in any case, these faucets are not normally used for drinking water. Going forward, these faucets will be flushed regularly after any long periods of idleness (such as a vacation week), which is a recommended course of action.
- Wayland Middle School: Out of 13 faucets, one kettle fill faucet which has not been in use for years, had lead and copper levels above their respective action levels. This faucet will remain out of use, and signage has been posted to this effect.
- The Children’s Way: All samples taken from the six taps and fixtures at The Children’s Way had lead and copper levels below the action levels.
All participating Massachusetts school district results, including Wayland’s, will be published on the MassDEP website in the coming weeks.
The Massachusetts Action Level for lead in drinking water is 0.015 milligrams per liter (also known as parts per million). The Massachusetts Action Level for copper in drinking water is 1.3 milligrams per liter (also known as parts per million).
For MassDEP information on lead and copper in drinking water see:
- Lead: http://www.mass.gov/eea/
agencies/massdep/water/ drinking/lead-in-drinking- water.html - Copper: http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/
dep/water/drinking/alpha/a- thru-h/copperfs.pdf
For Massachusetts Department of Public Health information on Lead and Copper see:
We consider this testing program essential in safeguarding the health of students, staff, and citizens who use school facilities. We remain committed to keeping the public informed and following MassDEP safety guidelines. As we learn about the remaining buildings, we will send out similar correspondence.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Paul Stein
Superintendent of Schools
Ben Keefe
Public Buildings Director
