Elevated levels of lead have been found in the drinking water at Image Elementary School in east Vancouver, Evergreen Public Schools announced this afternoon.
Tests of the drinking water found lead levels at the school ranging from 20 to 50 parts per billion, which exceeds the Washington state school rule of 20 parts per billion and the federal limit of 15 parts per billion. Built in 1976, the school at 4400 N.E. 122nd Ave. has shut off all drinking fountains, and will provide bottled water for the remainder of the school year, which ends June 16.
The school district is in the process of testing drinking water at all schools in the district, including potable water in drinking fountains and water from sinks in chemistry labs, at all schools and facilities, said Gail Spolar, district spokeswoman.
The results from Image are part of the initial testing of 300 samples. A second round of more stringent testing is underway at Image to pinpoint exact levels as well as to determine whether the lead is in the plumbing fixtures or the school’s water supply.
“We’ve submitted 300 samples. As they process them, they provide us with the results,” Spolar said. “This is the first school with elevated results.”
When asked whether the district will pay to test students for lead exposure, Spolar replied: “We are in contact with Clark County Public Health and will take direction from them regarding offering blood tests for students. “
Spolar indicated the district would have more information later.
No elevated lead levels were found in drinking water at Covington Middle School, Columbia Valley Elementary School, Orchards Elementary School, Crestline Elementary School, Endeavour Elementary School or the Clark County Skills Center.
The results from other schools in the district haven’t been received yet. Spolar said she was unsure when results for those schools would be available.
“All school districts are doing the testing. We are using similar labs,” Spolar said. “The labs are turning around the results as fast as they test and getting them back to us.”
As a precaution, Evergreen is proving bottled water to the following elementary schools built before 2001: Burnt Bridge Creek, Burton, Ellsworth, Fircrest, Fisher’s Landing, Harmony, Hearthwood, Illahee, Marrion, Mill Plain, Pioneer, Riverview, Sifton, Silver Star and Sunset. It’s possible that elevated levels of lead may be in pipes or fixtures installed prior to that year.
The district will complete a previously approved project of installing filtered water-bottle-filling stations at all schools over the summer.
Clark County schools have been prompted to test their drinking water this spring after a test in Portland schools found multiple problems with water there.
So far, Camas School District is the only other school district in Clark County that has reported results exceeding the state drinking water standard. A rarely used water fountain in Room 3 at Dorothy Fox Elementary School tested at 58 parts per billion. A sink in the Zellerbach Administration Center tested at 22 parts per billion.
