Cherry Hill Schools Roll Out Plan To Deal With Lead In Their Water

Cherry Hill, NJ -- The Cherry Hill School District unveiled a plan this week to deal with elevated levels of lead that have been found in nine water outlets at five elementary schools in the district.

The district will eliminate water fountains in all first-grade classrooms and above, the district said in a statement posted on its website.

It will replace water fountains in which any lead was found with a filtration system that includes both a bottle filling mechanism and a traditional water fountain. One water station will be installed for every 100 occupants in each building, and any additional water fountains will be removed.

Plumbing fixtures in pre-K and kindergarten classrooms, as well as faculty rooms, nurses’ offices, and kitchen sinks in which any lead was found will be replaced with filtration units attached to the water fountains themselves.

Sinks in all classrooms will be for hand washing only, and there will be signage to indicate that.

“Any plumbing fixture that is replaced will be re-tested for lead,” Cherry Hill Superintendent of Schools Joseph Meloche said in the statement. “I am grateful to the district staff and to the many community members who have participated in discussions regarding the development of this plan. If you are concerned about lead exposure at your school or in your home, I encourage you to ask your healthcare providers about testing children to determine levels of lead in their blood.”

Outlets at Bret Harte, James Johnson, Horace Mann, Joseph D. Sharp and Woodcrest elementary schools tested higher than the 15 parts per billion (ppb) allowed by the state.

Water has also been tested at Richard Stockton and the Mahlberg Administration Building/Alternative High School, and no elevated lead levels were discovered.

Testing at all 19 schools is being conducted to protect the community and to be in compliance with New Jersey Department of Education regulations, officials said. Testing is ongoing, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31.

Patch file photo