Lead, Copper Found In Water At Mansfield Schools

MANSFIELD, MA — Multiple water sample across the Mansfield Public Schools contained lead and copper, Superintendent Teresa Murphy confirmed in a letter to parents last week.

Testing was done on Feb. 8 and 10 at all five school and collected from all taps and fixtures used for drinking, cooking, and medical use. Samples were taken from the first draw, followed by a flush sample taken after the tap ran for 30 seconds.

The MassDEP limit for lead in drinking water is 0.015 milligrams per liter and 1.3 milligrams per liter for copper.

Below are the results:

Mansfield High School

• Lead - Nine of 32 sink samples exceeded MassDEP's limit. All nine were below the limit for the flush sample.
• Copper - Five of 32 locations exceeded MassDEP's limit. Three of five flush samples were above the limit.

Qualters Middle School

• Lead - Eight of 38 locations had levels above the MassDEP limit. Six of those eight were below the limit for the flush sample.
• Copper - Fourteen of 38 locations had levels above the MassDEP limit. Nine of the fourteen were above the limit after the flush sample was taken.

Jordan-Jackson Elementary School

• Lead - Twenty-nine of 140 locations had levels above the MassDEP limit. The 29 tested below the limit after the flush sample was taken.
• Copper - Ten of 140 samples had levels above the MassDEP limit. The 10 tested below the limit after the flush sample was taken.

Robinson Elementary School

• Lead - Thirty-nine of 96 locations had levels above the MassDEP limit. Thirty-eight of the 39 tested below the limit after the flush sample was taken.
• Copper - Twenty-one of 96 samples had levels above the MassDEP limit. All but one of the 21 tested above the limit after the flush sample was taken.

Roland Green Pre-School

• Lead - All five locations had levels below the MassDEP limit.
• Copper - All five locations had levels below the MassDEP limit.

In her letter to parents, Murphy said the school district does not believe that lead or copper are in the water source, but the buildings' plumbing and fixtures may have them. Any water tap above the MassDEP limit will have a sign that states "hand washing only" and affected water fountains will be taken out of service.

Due to the large numbers of fountains being taken out of service at the Robinson School, water stations are being added and families are encouraged to send their children to school with a water bottle from home.

Below is the full letter:

Mansfield PS Water Testing by DanLibon on Scribd

Image: File Photo