Your responses to the self-assessment indicate a moderate to high risk of lead contamination in your school drinking water. This may reflect obvious signs the water in your building is corrosive, that past sampling results showed elevated lead or copper levels, or that historical data for the school is missing or potentially inaccurate. For that reason, we recommend you sample all the outlets in your building that could be used for drinking water.

• All fountains, coolers and bubblers readily accessible to students (particularly the youngest students).
• At least one sample from each area used for food preparation.
• Other faucets or outlets regularly used to gather drinking or cooking water.

• Faucets and outlets used for cleaning, maintenance or other non-consumptive uses.
• Lab, washroom, art room and shop outlets.
• Irrigation outlets.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends sampling every water tap that could be used for drinking or cooking, and that any tap with more than 20 parts per billion (0.020 mg/L) of lead be retested. EPA’s guidance on developing a sampling plan and how to collect samples from various types of outlets is in 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools: Revised Technical Guidance. (See Resources below).

It is critical that your sampling plan follows EPA’s guidance. It should identify possible sample sites and a way to select actual sample sites using your assessment of conditions in the school.

You may choose not to sample all faucets and fountains, but should include those that are most accessible to children. Your sampling plan should also include at least one water tap used for food preparation. If you have multiple food-preparation locations take at least one sample from each location.

As you develop your sampling plan, evaluate the need to test for other compounds. The self-assessment focuses on lead because it poses the highest risk for young children. However, other compounds could cause water quality issues at your school.

If you answer yes to any question, your water may contain other corrosion-related compounds. You should consider expanding the list of test compounds at some of the sample sites to include cadmium, copper, iron or manganese.

You have completed the self-assessment.

EPA's Web site has one-stop source of information on drinking water quality in schools and childcare facilities.  It includes technical guidance and tools, information on laws and rules, and the health effects of  lead exposure.

For more information, call Derrick Dennis, Lead and Copper Program Manager, at (360) 236-3122 or e-mail Derrick Dennis.

April 2006

DOH PUB. #331-284