SALT LAKE CITY — Utah drinking water regulators and school districts across the state are rolling out a voluntary initiative to test for lead in water delivery systems, with initial sampling showing some schools need to make upgrades or improvements.

The effort so far involves 399 samples collected by 10 school districts, with 3.5 percent of the samples indicating lead levels necessitating a fix — such as replacement of a faucet or piping.

Marie Owens, director of the Utah Division of Drinking Water, said the results are not unexpected and those schools with "actionable" levels have either fixed the problem or are instituting upgrades now.

"Some have replaced that tap in their kitchen, flushed their system, resampled it and it is fine," she said.

The state set up a database for parents and others to determine if a particular school has participated in the early sampling and if levels of lead were at 15 micrograms per liter or above — the level at which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants the problem corrected.

"We wanted people to be able to check their school right away and see its status," Owens said.

Lead is a toxic metal affecting multiple body systems and is particularly harmful to children, according to the World Health Organization. Young children are particularly vulnerable because they absorb four to five times as much ingested lead as adults from a given source. Odorless, colorless and tasteless, the metal can enter drinking water through corroded pipes.

There is no federal law requiring testing of drinking water in schools or child care facilities, except for those who have or operate their own public water drinking system.

A 1991 law requires public water suppliers to test for lead and copper, including systems that supply homes. Under that law, the standard of 15 parts per billion is in effect — although it is a trigger for water system treatment, not a health-based or exposure standard.

The EPA estimates there are nearly 100,000 public schools and a half million child care facilities that are unregulated for lead or copper levels and may not be testing.

As a result, the EPA this January sent a letter to state school superintendents across the country asking them to engage in voluntary testing.

Owens, who also began her post in January as head of the state drinking water program, said she felt the public health issue was important enough the division become involved, even though it has no regulatory authority over schools' water systems.

"We can't force the school districts to take the samples, can’t force them to submit data to us, can’t force them to remediate it," she said.

Participating districts

Districts that have submitted at least some results are: Box Elder, Daggett, Duchesne, Granite, Murray, Nebo, North Summit, Park City, South Summit and Uintah.

Ben Horsley, spokesman for the Granite School District, said the district volunteered for the testing because the health of its students, staff and faculty is a priority.

Seven of its 92 schools tested at levels that exceeded federal levels but in every case, the issues have been rectified, he said.

State evaluators tested two locations in each school: kitchens and a randomly selected water fountain, he said.

Granite School District followed up with its own testing at Beehive, Calvin Smith, Gerald Wright; Magna; Silver Hills and William Penn elementary schools and Granite Technical Institute, where state test results indicated lead levels above "actionable" levels.

Water samples were collected from multiple sites in each school, with samples taken at progressive intervals of running water at each access point to determine whether there was elevated lead in the water or the source of the lead was pipes, faucets or other fixtures.

In one case, an older faucet aerator was collecting contaminants and minerals. It was replaced and lead levels in the water measured at safe levels, he said.

In every case, district officials flushed the water systems in each school as an added precaution.

"Considering the average age of our schools, we wondered if we'd have more problems than we actually did," Horsley said.

Forty-four of Granite District schools are more than 50 years old, with some even dating back to the 1930s.

Earlier this year, administrators requested that the school board fund a new position to hire a drinking water testing technician. The board agreed and that person will start work this fall.

"That's unique to our district. We are now the only district in the state that has a water testing technician. Again, that's appropriate for our school district with the average age of our facilities," Horsley said.

Participation 'strongly urged'

This summer, the division's parent agency, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, followed up with school districts "strongly" urging participation in the voluntary program.

"I've been really quite pleased that everyone seems to recognize that this is about the children's health," Owens said. "We are doing this to do the right thing."

Mark Peterson, spokesman for the Utah State Board of Education, said the school board is aware of ongoing lead testing and it has received updates from state water quality officials.

"The schools that volunteered to be part of the testing were both willing and anxious to have their water tested. A handful of schools were found with higher than normal levels of lead and are now taking steps, based on recommendations, to improve their systems that provide drinking water. We support the testing and appreciate schools quickly responding to the findings," Peterson said.

Owens added she is hopeful that all districts submit results within the next few weeks so the public can make use of the database.

If parents have particular concerns about potential lead exposure, they are encouraged to talk with their particular school or consult with a pediatrician.

"If a school had a level above 15 (parts per billion) they can take a look at the database and see what actions have been taken," she said.

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