Elevated Lead Levels Found In Wilmington Schools

WILMINGTON, MA -- Annual testing for lead and copper in drinking water at Wilmington Public Schools found elevated lead levels in 12 water fixtures at four schools. The testing did not find actionable levels in the actual water. The water fountains and sinks removed from the schools are being retested under state protocols.

The Environmental Protection Agency said lead typically enters drinking water from corrosion of fixtures or from solder connecting the pipes. Young children are among the groups listed as being particularly vulnerable to adverse health effects from lead in drinking water, according to the EPA. "A dose of lead that would have little effect on an adult can have a significant effect on a child," EPA said on its Web site. "In children, low levels of exposure have been linked to damage to the central and peripheral nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing, and impaired formation and function of blood cells."

Among the items removed from use in schools:

• A sink at the Boutwell Early Childhood Center
• Two sinks from Shawsheen Elementary
• A drinking fountain and sink from North Intermediate
• Six sinks and a water fountain from West Intermediate

There were no elevated levels in tests conducted at the Wildwood Early Childhood Center, Woburn Street School, Middle School and High School, according to the Wilmington Apple, which first reported this story. Under a grant the town received last year, lead is tested annual in Wilmington public buildings. State guidelines only require testing every three years in public buildings.

"An action level exceedance is not a violation of any law or regulation," according to a town memo the Apple quoted. "It does, however, require that the town work to mitigate the effects including regular monitoring, water treatment, public education, or replacement of plumbing and fixtures."

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).