Pennsylvania Tops Nation In School, Daycare Lead Exposure In Drinking Water

Too much lead in drinking water isn't just a problem in Flint, Mich.

Pennsylvania tops the nation in the number of times water supplied to schools and daycares have tested for too-high levels of lead, according to a USA today report.

The report says the state tested 37 times for elevated levels of lead in school and daycare drinking water since 2012. The only other states that were close were New Jersey, Wisconsin and Maine.

Indeed, at least 127 Pennsylvania drinking water systems have been cited for having elevated levels of lead within the past four years, according to the same report (see list below).

USA Today identified Pennsylvania drinking water sites that have violated federal action-levels for lead based on information derived from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) database.

None of these drinking water systems come anywhere near Flint, Mich., where lead was measured at upwards to 14,000 parts per billion. The federal safety line is 15 parts per billion.

But the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection acknowledged that the report puts a spotlight on an issue that the state continues to address.

DEP spokeswoman Virginia Cain pointed to the agency's website that addresses how "national events about lead exposure have generated new concerns for Pennsylvanians related to the safety of their homes and water."

"The Wolf Administration takes the issue of lead exposure very seriously and state agencies will continue to work together on their coordinated response to address lead exposure in communities across the commonwealth," according to the site. "The Departments of Health (DOH) and Environmental Protection (DEP) both work diligently to protect children from lead exposure and have many resources available for residents to learn more and take action on lead."

The state says the primary source of childhood lead poisoning in Pennsylvania continues to be exposure to aging, deteriorating lead-based paint - chips and dust - and not drinking water. The age of Pennsylvania's housing stock contributes to this problem.

"Protecting the state's water and the health and safety of our citizens is DEP's mission," Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Quigley said on the site. "Ensuring the safety of our drinking water is essential. We have policies and programs in place already to protect Pennsylvanians."

Here is the list:

• CAVALRY HEIGHTS MHP, Adams 20.5ppb
• SPECIALTY GRANULES INC, Adams 54ppb
• BUFFALO TWP MUN AUTH FREEPORT, Armstrong 18.4ppb
• OSTERBURG WATER CO, Bedford 23.2ppbS
• NAKE SPRING TOWNSHIP, Bedford 42.9ppb
• MATERION BRUSH INC, Berks 26ppb-36ppb
• LAZY K CAMPGROUND, Berks 152ppb
• BLUE MTN COOP TILDEN IND PARK, Berks 28ppb
• MOUNTAIN VIEW APARTMENTS, Berks 76.5ppb
• ZWICKY RECYCLING, Berks 105ppb
• A P GREEN REFRACTORIES, Blair 15.96ppb
• ANIMAL CARE SANCTUARY, Bradford 31.08ppb-35.9ppb
• BRADFORD TIOGA HEAD START, Bradford 16.45ppb-30.45ppb
• WYSOX TWP MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY, Bradford 18.8ppb
• ULSTER MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY, Bradford 20.8ppb
• CUMMINGS LUMBER COMPANY INC, Bradford 22.55ppb
• SRU MIDDLE SCHOOL, Bradford 27ppb
• OAK HILL VENEER, Bradford 87.5ppb
• GRANDVIEW HOSPITAL, Bucks 61.6ppb-230.33ppb
• QUAKERTOWN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, Bucks 55.5ppb-215.05ppb
• DELAWARE VALLEY COLLEGE, Bucks 29.7ppb
• DOYLESTOWN HOSP T/A PINE RUN, Bucks 20.7ppb
• BEDMINSTER ELEM SCHOOL, Bucks 17ppb
• JOHN GRASSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Bucks 33ppb
• DURHAM NOCK ELEM SCHOOL, Bucks 165.5ppb
• SUMMIT ACADEMY, Butler 16ppb-90ppb
• BEACON LITE MOBILE ESTATES, Butler 26ppb
• BERNIES MOBILE HOME PARK, Butler 15.7ppb
• EVANS CITY BOROUGH, Butler 17ppb
• MARION TWP WTP, Butler 28ppb
• IRON MOUNTAIN, Butler 31.7ppb
• CALVARY BAPTIST SCHOOL, Butler 37ppb
• HOLY SEPULCHER SCHOOL, Butler 21.8ppb
• ROWAN TOWERS, Butler 29ppb
• ADAMS MFG CORP, Butler 23ppb
• BARR AREA MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY, Cambria 15.6ppb
• SPRINGDALE GARDENS, Carbon 23.35ppb
• YOUTH FORESTRY CAMP #2, Carbon 27ppb
• MONUMENT WATER ASSOC, Centre 24ppb
• PIKELAND VILLAGE SQUARE, Chester 20ppb-39ppb
• MAPLEWOOD MOBILE HOME PARK, Chester 20ppb-45ppb
• TAYLORS MOBILE HOME PARK, Chester 44.6ppb
• LAZY ACRES MOBILE HOME PARK, Chester 23ppb
• ECHO VALLEY MHP, Chester44.2ppb
• COCHRANVILLE MHP, Chester 21ppb
• SPRING RUN ESTATES WTP, Chester 29ppb
• MONTESSORI SCHOOL, Chester 17.5ppb
• CURIOSITY CORNER DAY CARE CTR, Chester 80ppb
• WAGONTOWN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL, Chester 17ppb
• CREATIVE KIDS OF DOWNINGTOWN, Chester 17.5ppb
• SANDY HILL PRESCHOOL, Chester 22ppb
• EAST FALLOWFIELD ELEM SCHOOL, Chester 18.5ppb
• CHADDS FORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Chester 120ppb
• PAINT TOWNSHIP MUN WATER AUTH, Clarion 1,273ppb
• MITCHELL LAKE MOBILE HOME PARK, Crawford 16ppb
• HIGHPOINT MAJR DEVELOPMENT, Crawford 15.6ppb
• US BRONZE FOUNDRY AND MACHINE, Crawford 16.5ppb
• MOODY BUILDINGS 1 AND 2, Crawford 23.3ppb
• PITTSBURGH GLASS WORKS, Crawford 17ppb
• SPARTANSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Crawford 39ppb
• VISION QUEST LEE PREP ACADEMY, Crawford 16.5ppb
• HARRISBURG INTL AIRPORT, Dauphin 24ppb
• BRINTON MANOR, Delaware 271ppb
• CONELWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Erie 16.5ppb
• MERCERSBURG MUNI WATER AUTH, Franklin 31ppb
• MARION CENTER HIGH SCH, Indiana 24ppb
• SOLDIER WATER SYSTEM, Jefferson 16.2ppb
• LOCUST GROVE RETIREMENT HOME, Juniata 16.45ppb-100ppb
• ST MARYS VILLA NURSING HOME, Lackawanna 16ppb
• SCOTT TECHNOLOGY PARK, Lackawanna 64.9ppb
• VILLAS AT GEORGETOWN, Lancaster 30.5ppb-200.5ppb
• B J BALDWIN ELECTRIC INC, Lancaster 19ppb-37ppb
• PARADISE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Lancaster 17ppb-25ppb
• BRECKNOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Lancaster 16ppb-16ppb
• LOG CABIN COURT, Lancaster 69.5ppb
• SPRING LAKE PARK, Lancaster 21.5ppb
• JUBILEE MHP, Lancaster 60.5ppb
• MANHEIM AUTO AUCTION, Lancaster 41.9ppb
• CIRCLE M CAMPGROUND, Lancaster 33ppb
• LANCASTER MENNONITE HIGH SCHOOL, Lancaster 17ppb
• BLUE ROCK MENNONITE SCHOOL, Lancaster 16ppb
• LINVILLE HILL MENNONITE SCHOOL, Lancaster 16ppb
• FARMERSVILLE MENNONITE SCHOOL, Lancaster 17ppb
• VALCO HEADQUARTERS, Lancaster 153.5ppb
• MORGAN TRUCK BODY LLC, Lancaster 18ppb
• FAIRHAVEN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, Lancaster 18ppb
• WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, Lancaster 39ppb
• VILLA MARIA COMMUNITY CENTER, Lawrence 17.1ppb
• CASTLE CHEESE, Lawrence 42.1ppb
• RIDGEVIEW MHP & APTS, Lebanon 16.05ppb-30ppb
• YELLOW BREECHES SCHOOL, Lebanon 46.5ppb-257.5ppb
• COUNTRYSIDE CHRISTIAN COMM, Lebanon 16ppb
• PHILHAVEN, Lebanon 22ppb
• MOUNT TREXLER MANOR, Lehigh 26.4ppb-46.05ppb
• BIMBO BAKERIES USA INC, Lycoming 21.9ppb
• PORT ALLEGANY WATER DEPARTMENT, McKean 20.6ppb
• BARTON COURT, Monroe 27.5ppb-29ppb
• WHITE ROCK MOBILE HOME PARK, Monroe 88.95ppb
• HILLCREST RETIREMENT COMMUNITY, Monroe 24ppb
• DWGNRA HEADQUARTERS, Monroe 16.3ppb
• LIBERTY MALL, Monroe 41ppb
• PENNSYLVANIA 940 STATION, Monroe 16ppb
• LAKEWOOD RETREAT, Monroe 46ppb
• BLAKESLEE PLAZA, Monroe 20ppb
• ST PAULS LUTH CHURCH, Montgomery 49ppb
• EXELON NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, Montgomery 21ppb
• US GYPSUM COMPANY, Montour 18.75ppb-81.63ppb
• HICKORY HILLS MHC, Northampton 19ppb
• DEER LAKE CITIZENS ASSOC, Schuylkill 40.8ppb-57.4ppb
• PINE TERRACE MOBILE HOME PARK, Schuylkill 32.5ppb-168ppb
• MOUNTAIN WATER AUTHORITY, Schuylkill 32.9ppb
• NORTHEASTERN POWER COMPANY, Schuylkill 15.5ppb
• JOHN B RICH MEM POWER STATION, Schuylkill 18ppb
• FABCON EAST CORPORATION LLC, Schuylkill 16.2ppb
• CORSICANA BEDDING INC, Schuylkill 38.25 ppb
• NORTH STAR EAST MID SCHOOL, Somerset 48.2 ppb
• HILLSIDE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, Union 15.8ppb-21ppb
• OAKLAND ELEMENTARY, SCHOOL Venango 27.5 ppb
• WROUGHT PRODUCTS Venango 18.6 ppb
• SUGAR GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Warren 19.5 ppb
• AQUA PA GOULDSBORO, Wayne 31ppb
• SABER HEALTH CARE GROUP, Wayne 21 ppb
• PRESTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Wayne 22 ppb
• LOVESHAW INCORPORATED, Wayne 18 ppb
• KEYSTONE COLLEGE, Wyoming 83 ppb
• DOVER BETHANY UNITED METH CH, York 37.8 ppb
• FAIRVIEW TWP BLDG, York 32 ppb