The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is investigating lead levels in drinking water across the state, following a discovery of trace elements of lead in the water at San Manuel High School in Pinal County.
ADEQ is funding a six-month, fast-track screening program in an effort to collect and test 14,000 drinking water samples from 7,000 school buildings statewide.
The schools will be screened for lead levels in drinking water in an effort to identify possible leeching and contamination. According to ADEQ, “school drinking water may become contaminated as water moves through a school’s plumbing system where lead from materials and fixtures, such as water fountains, faucets, and water heaters, may leach into the water.”
According to ADEQ, “Lead contamination may be present in school drinking water even when a school’s water provider is in compliance with the federal lead drinking water standard of 15 parts of lead per billion parts of water (15 ppb). School drinking water may become contaminated as water moves through a school’s plumbing system where lead from materials and fixtures, such as water fountains, faucets and water heaters, may leach into the water. The risk of lead leaching increases with intermittent water use (e.g., schools often are closed on weekends and have several extended school breaks throughout the year when water lines are not being flushed).”
“In Arizona, the most commonly known sources of lead include lead-based paint in older homes, some household products including antique or imported toys, antique furniture, imported spices and candies, “home remedies” and lead-glazed pottery used for cooking,” reports ADEQ. “While drinking water is not considered to be a common source of lead in Arizona, eliminating exposure to lead in drinking water is an important step in reducing a child’s overall exposure to lead in the environment.”
“I was alarmed to hear this news, especially happening within my district at San Manuel
High School. Regardless of whether the school is in the middle of urban Phoenix or in rural
San Manuel, the same standards should be set across the state,” said Rep. David Cook in a press release issued Thursday. “Action must be taken to ensure our children are safe and protected. I support this investigation and the efforts of the ADEQ to make certain our water is free of contamination.”