Lead Testing Results In For 3 More Brick Schools

BRICK, NJ — Lead testing results are in for three more of Brick Township's schools, and at two schools none of the drinking water fountains showed excessive levels of lead, according to district officials.

The district began the water testing program in November in response to a state mandate that resulted from the crisis in Flint, Michigan, where chilren were becoming sick from lead poisoning, the result of lead leaching into the water in their homes and schools.

The Flint crisis led to testing of water in some of New Jersey's inner-city schools; results from 30 schools in Newark found lead levels as high as 35 times above the federal action limit of 15 parts per billion, according to a report on NJ.com. In May, Gov. Chris Christie announced that all of the state's 3,000 schools would be tested for lead exposure, and the state appropriated $10 million to help cover the costs. The 15ppb is set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the maximum allowable level, as lead in drinking water can have serious health impacts, especially for children.

Drum Point Elementary School, Midstreams Elementary School and Lake Riviera Middle School were tested in November. In January, Osbornville Elementary School, Emma Havens Young Elementary School and Herbertsville Elementary School.

Results of those tests plus those of retesting at Drum Point were released Jan. 31 in letters sent to parents, faculty and staff and posted on the district's website.

At Osbornville Elementary School, there were 15 sites sampled and all 15 tested below 15 ppb for lead, according to the district, and at Herbertsville Elementary School, 13 locations were tested with just one, an annex sink faucet, testing above 15 ppb.

Emma Havens Young Elementary School had 53 locations tested, and of those five came up with lead levels exceeding 15 ppb. One was a classroom bubbler water fountain; one was a steamer in the kitchen. Also testing high were the teachers' lounge sink faucet and the library bar faucet, according to the letter. The fifth spot was in the boiler room, a spot not used for drinking water. The four affected faucets have been shut off, the district said.

At Drum Point, seven classroom bubblers tested high in initial tests, the district said. Repairs were done and the bubblers retested, the district said. After the retests, two classroom bubblers continued to produce lead levels above the 15 ppb. One had a level of 51.47 ppb, the other had a level of 31.3 ppb. Both bubblers were deactivated, the district said. They had been out of service since November awaiting the results of the retest, the district said.

Lake Riviera Middle School and Midstreams Elementary School were tested in November. At Lake Riviera, seven samples out of 38 tested above the 15 ppb. One was a hallway water cooler that was immediately disconnected; the others were kitchen sinks and one point-of-entry outlet, none of which were used for drinking water. At Midstreams, three of 40 samples taken exceeded the 15 ppb; two were bubblers and one was a food prep sink. All three were disconnected.

Warren Wolf Elementary School, Lanes Mills Elementary, Veterans Elementary and Middle schools and both Brick high schools remain on the testing list.

High levels of lead have been associated with a number of issues, including cognitive problems; children 6 years old or younger are particularly at risk, officials have said.

Photo by Karen Wall