Report: High Lead, Copper in 2 Schools in Waltham

WALTHAM - Hundreds of schools in Massachusetts have water levels that are too high to drink, according to a report just released by the state. Of the almost 2,000 schools that voluntarily had water tested for lead and copper last year, some 600 had at least one test come back with higher than recommended levels for drinking purposes. Waltham appeared to be one of those districts.

"This list summarizes sampling results for lead and copper in drinking water at schools and early education & childcare facilities that have been reported to MassDEP through its electronic data reporting system," reads the report.

How did Waltham fare in the testing? Waltham's Douglas Macarthur Elementary School tested high for lead and the Waltham Recreation Dept. tested high for both lead and copper, according to the summary. Waltham Sr High also tested high for lead, according to the report.

Subscribe to get more news about Waltham.

The Waltham Public Schools were not able to immediately return a phone call or email before publication.

Water testing above the "actionable level" indicates that the concentration is higher than is acceptable by the state's standards. "If lead concentrations exceed an action level of 15 ppb [ 0.015 milligrams per liter] or copper concentrations exceed an action level of 1.3 ppm [or 1.3 mg/L] in more than 10 percent of customer taps sampled, the system must undertake a number of additional actions to control corrosion," according to the EPA guidelines.

The report did not indicate directly how far above actionable each party went, but a separate state report from May last year indicates a High School water fountain came back with a .0104 for lead.

At Macarthur elementary school a kitchen sink test came back with copper levels at 0.147 and lead at .00215. A water fountain came back with copper levels at 0.167 and lead at 0.00148.

The water supplied to schools is generally well below the Massachusetts lead and copper Action Levels, but lead can be in drinking water due to lead pipes, solder, or old fixtures, according to the state. Most lead exposure around here comes from lead paint dust. Still, lead and copper in drinking water is a concern because infants, young children, and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of exposure.

The Waltham list:

Waltham William F. Stanley Elementary School Lead and Copper Below Action Level

Waltham Douglas Macarthur Elementary School Only Lead Above Action Level

Waltham Northeast Elementary School Lead and Copper Below Action Level
Waltham Thomas R Plympton Elementary School Lead and Copper Below Action Level
Waltham James Fitzgerald Elementary School Lead and Copper Below Action Level
Waltham Henry Whittemore Elementary School Lead and Copper Below Action Level
Waltham John F Kennedy Middle Lead and Copper Below Action Level
Waltham John W. Mcdevitt Middle School Lead and Copper Below Action Level
Waltham Waltham Sr High Only Lead Above Action Level
Waltham Milestones Day School Lead and Copper Below Action Level
Waltham Bright Horizons @ Waltham Lead and Copper Below Action Level
Waltham Lemberg Children'S Center Lead and Copper Below Action Level
Waltham Waltham Recreation Dept. Both Lead and Copper Above Action Level

Some of the levels found at some of other Massachusetts schools had exceeded levels found in Flint, MI, according to the Boston Globe.

Photo of Waltham High School By Tim Pierce - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/...