The continuing problem of lead contamination in drinking water is one of the most pressing issues of the moment. And with millions of lead service lines throughout the United States, it’s not going away anytime soon. Fortunately, the increased attention being called to this problem is leading to greater identification of the problem so that some of the risks can be prevented and solutions can be sought.
In the latest development of the lead crisis: School buildings in communities throughout the United States are realizing there is a widespread problem with lead in drinking water. We recently reported on findings of high lead levels in Maryland schools and Detroit schools. Then, on September 5, the Wall Street Journal published this article noting that elevated lead levels in drinking water—most frequently caused by old plumbing—were becoming a common problem in schools across multiple states.
The article mentions elevated lead levels in schools in Indiana, Florida, Colorado, and others. The underlying idea here is that these are not isolated incidents, but a nationwide trend. The article reports: “A July report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that 43% of school districts it surveyed had tested for lead in 2016 or 2017. Of those, about 37% showed elevated lead in drinking water.”
Read the full Wall Street Journal article on lead contamination in schools nationwide here
