Eighteen Pittsburgh Schools Test Positive For Lead

PITTSBURGH, PA - Eighteen of 70 Pittsburgh Public Schools buildings were found to have lead in recent testing, the district disclosed in a report. All fixtures where lead levels exceeded federal Environmental Protection Agency guidelines - 15 parts per billion - have been repaired or replaced.

"We take our responsibility to ensure students and staff work and learn in healthy and safe environments seriously," Superintendent Anthony Hamlet said in a statement. "While we are not required to conduct water testing, we believe strongly in the peace of mind we gain by ensuring all students have access to safe drinking water."

Schools testing positive for lead:

• Brookline
• Carrick
• Clayton
• Crescent
• Greenfield
• King
• Langley
• Linden
• Manchester
• Montessori
• Online Academy
• Perry
• Schenley Field House
• Sterrett
• Sunnyside
• Weil
• Westinghouse
• Westinghouse Field House

“We are very thankful for the diligence of our District facilities maintenance team and contractors for the level of guidance and expertise committed to this effort,” said Chief Operations Officer Pamela Capretta. “We know that managing the facilities of a 108-year-old school district requires regular check-ins of older plumbing fixtures and pipes where deterioration over time can result in lead entering our drinking water. By ensuring we are utilizing methods informed by the EPA’s 3Ts, we know we are implementing best practices to reducing lead exposure.”

The total cost for testing at 70 district facilities was approximately $242,403.