Lead in Cape school water sources caused by fixtures
The source of lead found in water tested at four Cape Henlopen schools has been identified as the physical fixtures on the water sources, and they will be replaced, a school official said.
“If it were in the water, all of the test samples would have come back elevated,” said Public Relations Coordinator Steph DeMalto. “They were able to determine this based on the testing process they went through.”
Testing is conducted with various samples for each fixture, DeMalto said, and the source is also determined through retesting after the impacted fixture has been remediated.
The district is responsible for performing the replacement of fixtures, DeMalto said, which will be conducted by the district plumber. Then, retesting will take place, she said. An exact timeline for the work is not yet available.
Sampled water in several sources at Cape High, H.O. Brittingham Elementary, and Beacon and Mariner middle schools tested positive for elevated levels of lead, the district announced in letters to parents with children at the four schools March 29. Water sources that were identified as having elevated levels have been turned off.
Families will be updated when remediation has been completed, officials said. Testing results were not yet available for Lewes, Love Creek, Milton and Rehoboth elementary schools, or the Sussex Consortium, by the Cape Gazette print deadline. When ready, they will be posted on the district website at bit.ly/3zxf13F.
The state school drinking water testing program is a result of a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Delaware Department of Education with support from the Delaware Division of Public Health.
In December, DOE announced it had contracted with the private firm Batta Environmental Associates to conduct lead testing at drinking water consumption points in every Delaware public school. Testing was performed at Cape district schools in mid-March. For more information about the testing program, go to de.gov/schoolwater.
