UPDATE: Water safe at Cape schools, Beebe Healthcare

The Lewes Board of Public Works says water tests at Cape Henlopen School District buildings and schools and at Beebe Healthcare show the water is safe.

General Manager Darrin Gordon said the lead levels are below the Environmental Protection Agency and Delaware State Office of Drinking Water action level for lead - 15 parts per billion. 

An alert was sent out Aug. 30 after routine water tests revealed elevated levels of lead in the water of three Lewes homes. 

According the state health officials, samples at the homes showed a level of lead that is double the amount considered safe by the EPA.

Gordon said testing for lead occurs every three years at 10 homes in the city. He said he’s confident the elevated results are from lead pipes in the homes and not from the BPW’s infrastructure. 

Further testing at the three homes is underway to determine the source of the lead. 

The State Office of Drinking water still recommends that all organizations follow the three Ts – training, testing and telling – for reducing lead in drinking water in schools and child care facilities. To learn more, go to https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/3ts-reducing-lead-drinking-water-schools-and-child-care-facilities.