Gloucester Township Schools Had Too Much Lead In Water: Database

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — The Gloucester Township K-8 Public School District is one of 61 school districts statewide that had too much lead discovered in their water in recent years, according to a new state database.

All the schools in Gloucester Township were last tested on May 24, 2017, according to the statement of assurance for the district posted in the database. Eight of the district’s 11 schools had at least one sample that was above the lead action level established by the US Environmental Protection Agency for lead in drinking water (15 µg/l [ppb]).

Those schools are listed below, including how many samples tested above the action level and any remediation that was conducted following initial testing. Following initial testing, all locations that tested above the lead action level were disconnected while remediation took place.

Glen Landing Middle School: The initial results showed that one of the 39 samples taken throughout the school tested above the lead action level. It was in the food and nutrition lab tested above tested below the lead action level established by the US Environmental Protection Agency for lead in drinking water (15 µg/l [ppb]). The result was 17.1 µg/l [ppb]. The district underwent remediation procedures for that one location, and when it was retested, it remained above the lead action level. The fixture and piping to the wall were then replaced.

Chews Elementary School: The initial results showed that four of the 59 samples taken throughout the school tested above the lead action level. They were in:
Room 405: 15.30;
Room 207: 23.4; and
Room 208: 20.7.
A drinking water fountain in the 400 wing also tested above lead action levels, checking in at 21.60.
The locations in Rooms 207 and 208 failed re-testing after remedial action was taken. In Room 207, the fixture and piping to the wall were replaced and a lead filter-in line was added. In Room 208, the fixture was removed.

Loring Flemming Elementary School: The initial results showed that three of the 49 samples taken throughout the school tested above the lead action level. They were in:
The School Kitchen: 20.40; and
Room C8: 15.8.
A drinking water fountain in the B-4 hallway also tested above lead action levels, checking in at 26.2.

The location in C8 and the drinking water fountain failed re-testing after remedial action was taken. In C8, the fixture and piping to the wall were replaced and a lead filter-in line was added. The fixture for the water fountain was removed.

Blackwood Elementary School: The initial results showed that 11 of the 62 samples taken throughout the school tested above the lead action level. They were in:
The Nurse’s Office: 21.5;
Room 15: 17.3;
Room 19: 65.6;
Room 6: 23.0;
Room 8: 35.0;
Room 9: 23.7;
Room 12: 145;
The Library: 46.1; and
The Kitchen: 66.
Water fountains in hallway 7 (42.1) and 11 (23.1) also tested above the lead action level.

After remedial action, nine of the locations remained above the lead action level, and the following remediation took place:
Room 19: Replaced fixture and piping to the wall;
Room 6: Removed the fixture;
Hallway 7 water fountain: Removed the fixture;
Room 8: Removed the fixture;
Room 9: Replaced fixture and piping to the wall, and added lead filter-in line;
Hallway 11 water fountain: Removed the fixture;
Room 12: Removed the fixture;
The Library: Removed the fixture; and
The Kitchen: Replaced fixture and piping to the wall, and added lead filter-in line.

Gloucester Township Elementary School: The initial results showed that two of the 12 samples taken throughout the school tested above the lead action level. They were both in the kitchen, where two sinks tested at 30.8 and 16.1, respectively. They both failed remediation, and the fixtures and piping to the wall for both sinks was replaced.

Erial Elementary School: The initial results showed that six of the 62 samples taken throughout the school tested above the lead action level. They were in:
Room A12: 356;
Room B6: 21.6;
Room C1: 47.0;
Room D4: 53.0; and
Room D5: 67.5.
The water fountain in hallway B7 also tested above the lead action level, checking in at 45.4.

Four locations failed remediation, and the following actions were taken:
Room B6: Replaced fixture and piping to the wall;
Water Fountain: Removed fixture;
Room D4: Replaced fixture and piping to the wall; and
Room D5: Removed fixture.

J.W. Lilley Elementary School: The initial results showed that six of the 62 samples taken throughout the school tested above the lead action level. All six also failed remediation. Below are their locations and the actions taken:
Room 15: 17.9. Replaced fixture and piping to the wall;
Room 13: 167. Removed fixture;
Room 11: 4,050. Replaced fixture and piping to the wall;
Room 118: 30.8. Removed fixture;
Room 116: 16.6. Replaced fixture and piping to the wall, and added a lead filter in-line; and
Room 112: 27.2. Replaced fixture and piping to the wall.

Union Valley Elementary School: The initial results showed that two of the 51 samples taken throughout the school tested above the lead action level. They were both in the kitchen, where two sinks tested at 76.9 and 17.2, respectively. They both failed remediation, and they were both permanently disconnected.

All other schools had no locations that tested above lead action levels. All parents were notified at the time of the initial testing and any remediation that took place. Read more here: Lead In Water: New Database Shows Many NJ Schools Had Too Much