Elevated Lead Levels Found in School Water

ROCKVILLE, Md. - Elevated levels of lead in the water have been found in 28 of the 192 schools and facilities tested in Montgomery County.

All 28 buildings had elevated levels of lead in at least some locations, a news release from the school system says.

Spokeswoman Kate Harrison says the school system is still awaiting the results from 32 other buildings. Sink faucets and hallway water coolers were included in test samples.

Harrison says it's taken several months to get the results back because of a backlog at the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.

Harrison says it's still safe to drink the water. Schools are required to flush the lines for 15 minutes every four hours.

Test results from 160 buildings have been completed.

The school system is awaiting all the test results before determining the source of the problem and coming up with a permanent solution, Harrison says.

The most recently tested schools and other facilities include: Benjamin Banneker Middle, Burning Tree Elementary, Carver Educational Services Center, Clearspring Elementary, Col. Zadok Magruder High, Eastern Middle, Emery Grove Center, Forest Knolls Elementary, Forest Oak Middle, Herbert Hoover Middle, John T. Baker Middle, Lakewood Elementary, McKenney Hills Center, North Bethesda Middle, North Lake Center, Oakland Terrace Elementary, Paint Branch High, Parkland Middle, Piney Branch Elementary, Richard Montgomery High, Ridgeview Middle, Rock Terrace School, Rocking Horse Road Center, Tilden Middle, Westbrook Elementary, William Tyler Page Elementary, Wood Acres Elementary and Woodfield Elementary.

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