A letter sent out to Oak Creek School parents Friday, Feb. 26, warns that their children may have been exposed to potentially hazardous levels of lead via the school’s water supply.
“In 2013, during routine water testing, elevated levels of lead were found in two testing sites, a drinking fountain and a sink in the classroom at the preschool building of Oak Creek Elementary School,” Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District Superintendent Barbara U’Ren stated. “Additional tests were done in 2014. Results of these tests showed lead levels below the Contaminant Action Level. The report that the district received from the Water Testing Agency did not provide the average level data.
On Feb. 11, U’Ren received notification from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, requiring it to issue a public notice to the affected families about the elevated levels of lead reported in 2013. The notification also required COCSD to continue testing, which U’Ren assured has been done on a regular basis since 2013.
“I was surprised that we just now received a letter from ADEQ requiring public notification to the affected families; almost three years later,” U’Ren stated in a Feb. 26 letter to Larson Newspapers. “In trying to determine why we did not know that we had elevated levels of lead, we learned the following: First, the water testing company we contract with takes samples of water from a number of testing sites. Next, the testing company provides the water samples to a technical services company to analyze. The technical service company analyzes the waters’ lead content.
“In the report that the district receives, are two areas for what is called the 90th Percentile Calculation. It is here that you determine if you are within the acceptable range. The technical service company does not calculate this percentage. The technical service company sends the analysis report to ADEQ without the 90th Percentile Calculation. ADEQ then calculates and notifies the district when it does not meet the compliance standards.”
According to U’Ren, at this point “communication fell through the cracks.” Following the Feb. 11 notification, COCSD realized that it was ultimately the district’s responsibility to calculate the 90th Percentile Calculation, and not the responsibility of either the water testing company or ADEQ.
“ADEQ does send notification to the owner of the water company — the district — if there is a problem, but this notification from ADEQ was just received last week in regards to the issues of 2013,” U’Ren stated. “It seems to me that there has to be a better way to do this. I have spoken to both the technical service company and ADEQ about the missteps and am looking forward to processes that make better sense. Now we know; it is ultimately the district’s responsibility.”
According to U’Ren, before 2013 there were no issues brought up during testing, which “resulted in the district only having to conduct five tests.” As a result of the 2013 tests that found elevated levels of lead, COCSD has been taking 10 samples every six months.
“Along with issuing this public notice, the district is implementing further testing at additional sites throughout the campus, although previous tests at other buildings have never shown elevated levels of lead,” U’Ren stated in the Feb. 26 letter to parents. “As the preschool building is the oldest building on campus, we suspect that the source of the lead is from the lead solder used on the pipes. Regardless of what the tests results are, the district will be replacing the water lines that bring water to this classroom. Once that is done, further testing will be completed to insure compliance with the lead level tolerance.
“Your children’s safety is our number one concern and we sincerely apologize for any anxiety that this issue may cause. We will be working with the our facilities department, the water testing company and ADEQ to expedite report results to the district in a more timely manner so that any future issue may be quickly addressed.”
| Oak Creek Elementary School Water Above Lead Tolerances |
| According to Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District Superintendent Barbara U’Ren, “Oak Creek Elementary School, Public Water System PWS No. 13-095, found elevated levels of lead in drinking water in some buildings. Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children.” What is being done: Water shut off to two sites. COCSD will provide bottled water to the preschool. Additional testing at Oak Creek School. COCSD will work with the testing company and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality on communication and interpretation of the data. The district will provide test results to the public and if necessary, act in a timely manner. Reducing lead exposure in drinking water: Run water for 15 to 30 seconds to flush lead from interior plumbing or until it becomes cold or reaches a steady temperature. Use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula. Do not cook with or dink water from the hot water tap. Lead dissolves more easily into hot water. Boiling water will not reduce lead. Look for alternative sources or water treatment. Consider purchasing a water filter or bottled water. Read the package to be sure the filter is approved to reduce lead. Get your child’s blood tested. Contact your local health department or health care provider to find out how you can get your child tested. For more information, call David Snyder, director of business services for COCSD, at 634-2288. For more information on reducing lead exposure and the health effects of lead, visit the Environmental Protection Agency website, call the National Lead Information Center at (800) 424-LEAD or the Safe Drinking Water Act hotline at (800) 426-4791 or contact your health care provider. |
