DC Water and Sewer Authority 
Press release on lead testing at DCPS schools and facilities
February 24, 2004

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February 24, 2004

EXTENSIVE SCHOOL WATER TESTING PROGRAM CONFIRMS LOW LEVELS OF LEAD IN DCPS SCHOOLS AND FACILITIES

(Washington, DC) The results of an extensive sampling and analysis program conducted February 14 through February 19, 2004, by the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DCWASA) in cooperation with the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) shows that the vast majority of the DCPS and facilities have extremely low levels of lead in the water provided by the DCWASA Water Distribution System. Every occupied public school in the District was tested as well as administrative and shop facilities.

The results show that 98.94 % or 744 of the total 752 samples contained either no detectable quantities of lead or levels below the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) "action level" for residences of 15 parts per billion (ppb). Eight samples tested above the 15 ppb threshold. The test procedure was capable of detecting over 2 ppb of lead.

"Given the widespread nature of the tests taken throughout the District, and the fact that the tests showing elevated levels were so isolated, this tells us that the lead levels in WASA's main service lines to public schools and facilities have lead levels well below the EPA acceptable levels," said Jerry Johnson, WASA General Manager. "But no matter how isolated, any case where the tests show higher lead levels is of concern. Where tests showed problems with a small number of plumbing fixtures, DCPS has taken prompt action to address the concern."

Seven hundred fifty-two samples were collected from 154 schools and school facilities identified by DCPS. The sampling methodology called for 5 samples to be collected at each location - three from drinking fountains and two from sinks. Water was run from each fixture for ten minutes before sample collection to obtain a "snapshot" of the water delivered by each building's internal plumbing system. An additional 22 "first draw" samples were collected from randomly selected locations to assess the contribution of plumbing fixtures such as faucets and drinking fountains, and ALL of these samples yielded results below 15 parts per billion (ppb) of lead, with 11 of the samples below the 2 ppb limit of detection.

The samples were analyzed for DCWASA by Martel Laboratories JDS, Inc., of Baltimore, Maryland, a water quality laboratory certified by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for microbiological and chemical examination of drinking water. Martel followed EPA-specified methods in conducting the analyses by inductively coupled plasma-Mass Spectrometry. A full report containing the results for each fixture sampled at each location is attached.

The eight locations with lead levels above 15 ppb and the actions taken are summarized below:

• A drinking fountain at Douglass Academy at Douglass, 2600 Douglass Place, SE, yielded a water sample analyzed at 43 ppb lead. The fountain has been removed from service for replacement by DCPS. All other samples taken at Douglass Academy -- two other fountains and two sinks -- that were tested at the same time yielded samples testing below the 2 ppb level of detection.
• A sink in the Teacher's Lounge at Kenilworth Elementary, 1300 44th St, NE, yielded a water sample analyzed at 109 ppb lead. Use of this sink has been suspended by DCPS pending a review of its condition. Bottled water is being provided for staff use. All other samples taken at Kenilworth --three drinking fountains and one sink -- tested at the school at the same time yielded samples testing below the 2 ppb level of detection.
• A sink in Room 109 at Eliot Jr. High School, 1830 Constitution Ave., NE, yielded a water sample analyzed at 50 ppb lead. Use of this sink has been suspended by DCPS pending a review of its condition. All other samples taken at Eliot -- three drinking fountains and one sink -- tested at the school at the same time yielded samples testing below the 2 ppb level of detection.
• A cafeteria sink at Bell Multicultural Sr. High School, 3145 Hiatt Place, NW, yielded a water sample analyzed at 160 ppb lead. Use of this sink has been suspended by DCPS pending a review of its condition. All other samples at Bell -three drinking fountains and an additional cafeteria sink -- tested at the school at the same time yielded samples testing below the 2 ppb level of detection.
• A drinking fountain at Dunbar Sr. High School, 1301 New Jersey Ave., NW, yielded a water sample analyzed at 22 ppb lead. The fountain has been removed from service for replacement by DCPS. All other samples at Dunbar were below the EPA residential action level of 15 ppb. Specifically, two sinks tested at the school at the same time yielded samples testing below the 2 ppb level of detection, and two other fountains yielded samples testing at 3.9 ppb and 10 ppb.
• A sink in the kitchen at H.D. Woodson Sr. High School, 5500 Eads St., NE, yielded a water sample analyzed at 110 ppb lead. Use of this sink has been suspended by DCPS pending a review of its condition. All other samples taken at Woodson -- three drinking fountains and one sink -- tested at the school at the same time yielded samples testing below the 2 ppb level of detection.
• A drinking fountain at Penn Center, 1709 3rd St., NE yielded a water sample analyzed at 18 ppb lead. The fountain has been removed from service for replacement by DCPS. All other samples taken at the Penn Center --two fountains tested at the site at the same time yielded samples testing below the 2 ppb level of detection, and two sinks yielded samples testing at 2.8 ppb and 6.8 ppb, respectively.
• A sink in the cafeteria Ballou Sr. High School, 34014th St., SE, yielded a water sample analyzed at 16 ppb lead. Use of this sink has been suspended by DCPS pending a review of its condition. All other samples taken at Ballou --three drinking fountains and one sink -- tested at the school at the same time yielded samples testing below the 2 ppb level of detection.