Since 2016, BCPS has tested school drinking fountains
for lead; beginning in 2018, Maryland law
(Chapter 386, 2017) now requires all
occupied public schools, serving children in prekindergarten to grade 12, that
receive drinking water from a public utility to test for the presence of lead
in all drinking water outlets.
Since SY2018-19, overseen by BCPS Environmental
Services, trained environmental technicians from BCPS and third-party firms
have continued testing water from all identified drinking water sources in all
schools. As required, a notification of results analyzed by an
independent laboratory is sent home by each school to parents, guardians, and
staff. If results exceed the State’s action
level of 5 parts per billion (ppb), the fixture will be turned off and
replaced. The new fixture will not be available for students or staff to use
until follow-up tests show that results do not exceed the State’s action level
of 5 parts per billion (ppb).
All distributed notifications are
accessible below.
Lead in Water
Lead can enter drinking water when plumbing materials that
contain lead corrode. The most common sources of lead in drinking water are
lead pipes, faucets, and fixtures. Lead pipes are more likely to be found in
older cities and structures built before 1986.
Lead in the Environment
In Baltimore County, the most common cause of lead poisoning
in children is lead paint found in homes built before 1978.
Please remember to keep children away from lead paint and dust, and be mindful
of products containing lead, including candy, toys, makeup, and jewelry.
BCPS Schools Supplied by Well Water
Schools that have their own
individual well(s) and are already required to test for lead under the federal Lead and Copper Rule are not covered by Maryland law (Chapter 386, 2017). Results from these schools
are posted as required in the school’s main office.
For more information about lead in
BCPS, please contact
BCPS Environmental Services Senior
Operations Supervisor, Brendan Richardson, 443-809-6310.
One-Pager about Lead Test Results
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For more information:
Baltimore County Department of Health
Maryland Department of Health - Lead Poisoning
Prevention
Maryland Department of the Environment - Testing for
Lead in Drinking Water
Centers
for Disease Control - Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
Environmental
Protection Agency - Lead
Environmental Protection Agency -
Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water