DEAD THE LEAD
Keeping Schools Lead Free
Sen. Art Haywood became involved in the issue of testing for lead in drinking water after visiting Flint, Michigan in 2016. Seeing what that community endured, Haywood fought to keep teachers, students and faculty in Pennsylvania schools safe from lead exposure.
Since then, Sen. Haywood introduced legislation on lead testing school drinking water. Sen. Haywood’s legislation – Senate Bill 647 – included additional provisions to require schools test lead levels in paint and soil, as well. In 2017, a federal class action lawsuit was filed against the Butler Area School District after testing showed student drinking water contained lead levels 200 percent to 300 percent higher than the accepted standard.
Allentown and Altoona were home to the highest percentages of children with elevated blood lead levels in the state at 23.11 percent and 20.45 percent, respectively. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s 2018 report on the health of the city’s public schools, 10 of 14 elementary schools contained lead levels significantly above the EPA’s standards of 250 micrograms per square foot on windowsills and 40 micrograms per square foot on floors.
2017 Drinking Water Quality Report
Published Spring 2018 – This report is produced as a requirement of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Note: Industrial and commercial customers, including hospitals, medical centers and health clinics, please forward this report to your Environmental Compliance Manager. PWD’s Public Water System Identification #PA151001
New requirements for testing of lead in school drinking water
The Pennsylvania General Assembly recently passed a state budget package that included changes to the state school code to address the issue of lead in school drinking water.
Beginning in the 2018-19 school year, 501 Pennsylvania school districts will be required to test for lead in every facility within their district or conduct a hearing that discusses lead within their school facilities. The testing must be completed this school year and elevated lead test results must be posted on the Department of Education’s public website.
Sen. Art Haywood’s legislation to require lead testing in schools served as a framework for these new school code changes. In Pennsylvania, one of every 10 children is considered to have lead poisoning, which is defined as having more than 5 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood.
In 2017, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reported 112 water systems had failed to comply with the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection’s (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule (LCR).
Among those out of compliance, 58 were schools or child care facilities. Schools and daycare centers, specifically, are at higher risk for elevated lead water levels because water is turned on and off sporadically instead of being run for longer periods of time, so contaminants are unable to be filtered out of the pipes. As such, the EPA recommends such facilities address lead levels in their water when the concentration of lead exceeds 15 parts per billion.
Sources
Sources: PA Department of Environmental Protection, Testimony of Lisa Daniels for PA Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Hearing, Oct. 30, 2017
http://files.dep.state.pa.us/Water/DrinkingWater/Lead/DEP%20Daniels%20Testimony%20Lead%20Exposure%20and%20Mitigation.pdf
PA Department of Environmental Protection, Lead in Drinking Water: Information for Schools and Day Cares, https://www.dep.pa.gov/Citizens/My-Water/PublicDrinkingWater/Pages/Lead-and-Drinking-Water.aspx
Penn State Extension, “Lead in Drinking Water,” https://extension.psu.edu/lead-in-drinking-water
City & State Pennsylvania, “Uphill Climb Resolving Pennsylvania’s Lead Paint Crisis” https://www.cityandstatepa.com/content/uphill-climb-resolving-pennsylvanias-lead-paint-crisis
Health effect of exposures to lead in drinking water
According to the EPA, young children, infants, and unborn children are particularly vulnerable to lead. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has indicated no amount of lead should be considered safe for children. Low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in:
Behavior and learning problems
Slowed growth
Anemia
Lower IQ and hyperactivity
Hearing problems
“Requiring Pennsylvania schools to test for lead in drinking water is a step forward toward providing a healthy environment for teachers and students to focus on education.“
Senador Art Haywood
Latest News & Video
Danger at the faucet
The Blade | Editorials
As 50,000 students returned to Detroit Public Schools earlier this month, they found themselves without running water. Tests had found elevated levels of lead in the schools’ drinking water.
“I am turning off all drinking water in our schools until a deeper and broad analysis can be conducted to determine the long-term solutions,” Superintendent Nikolai Vitti told the Detroit community.
Haywood: New Law Prompts Testing for Lead in Drinking Water in Schools
WLRI
On Julio 18, 2018 Sen. Art Haywood (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) said that provisions in the recently enacted School Code will prompt school districts to test for lead in drinking water in Pennsylvania schools.
“A 2014 study by the state Department of Health found that 18 communities across Pennsylvania have children who have tested positive for increased levels of lead,” Haywood said. “We must do what we can to reduce exposure to lead and ensure that school facilities do not have lead in drinking water.”
Starting this year, Pa. schools must test lead in drinking water, or explain why not
WHHY | BY SARA HOOVER
Many thought lead in drinking water was a problem of the past — until the water contamination crisis in Flint, Michigan, a few years back.
And then a U.S. Government Accountability Office survey polled school districts across the country on testing for lead in drinking water in 2017. Fewer than half of those surveyed did testing; of those that did, more than a third found elevated levels.
York County schools might test for lead in drinking water with new law
By Lindsay C. VanAsdalan | York Dispatch
York County schools — along with all other schools statewide — will now be required to test for lead in their drinking water, or at least discuss the issue in public. Legislation that passed with the 2018-19 state budget amended the school code so that all facilities where children attend school — including charters, cyber schools and intermediate units — must be tested, or the school entity must inform the community about lead issues at a public meeting.
Senator urges testing lead in schools’ drinking water
The Philadelphia Tribune
Sen. Art Haywood, (Philadelphia/Montgomery) said on Miércoles that provisions in the recently enacted School Code will prompt school districts to test for lead in drinking water in Pennsylvania schools.
“A 2014 study by the state Department of Health found that 18 communities across Pennsylvania have children who have tested positive for increased levels of lead,” he said. “We must do what we can to reduce exposure to lead and ensure that school facilities do not have lead in drinking water.”
Haywood: New Law Prompts Testing for Lead in Drinking Water in Schools
Harrisburg, Julio 18, 2018 – Sen. Art Haywood (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) said today that provisions in the recently enacted School Code will prompt school districts to test for lead in drinking water in Pennsylvania schools. “A 2014 study by the state Department of...
Legislation
Senate Bill 647 (formally SB 17) was reintroduce in Abril 2017. This legislation requires schools in the Commonwealth to test for elevated levels of lead.
News reports on the contaminated water supply in Flint, Michigan have brought the conversation about lead to the national forefront. A 2014 Department of Health study found that children in more than eighteen communities throughout the Commonwealth have tested positive for lead at levels higher than those in Flint. Some of the communities in that report are: Allentown, Altoona, Bethlehem, Erie, Johnstown, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Reading, and Scranton.
While the tragedy in Flint focuses on the water supply, the dangers of lead in Pennsylvania also extend to our schools, day cares, and housing stock through lead-based paint. It is time we take action to analyze the Commonwealth’s potential lead issues and ensure that our children and our communities are safe.
My legislation requires that every school building be tested for lead prior to the start of the school year. Testing will include water, paint, and soil. Results of the test would be sent to parents of every child enrolled in the school as well as be posted on the school district’s website. If a school tests at lead levels higher than the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) acceptable amount, they would be required to submit a remediation plan to the Department of Education.
Information for Schools
Public School Code
To prevent exposure to lead contamination in the drinking water of Pennsylvania’s schools, the Public School Code was amended in Junio 2018 (by Act 39 of 2018) to:
- Encourage schools to test for lead in their drinking water;
- Require schools that do not test to discuss lead issues at a public meeting; and
- Implement a plan if results exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) national primary drinking water standard of 15 parts per billion (ppb).
This law is effective beginning with the 2018-19 school year.
Testing for Lead in Drinking Water
Under Act 39 of 2018, schools may, but are not required to, test for lead levels annually in the drinking water of any facility where children attend school.
Requirements for Schools Choosing NOT to Test Drinking Water
If a school chooses not to test for lead levels, then the school must discuss lead issues in school facilities at a public meeting once a year. This meeting may be a stand-alone meeting or part of an existing public meeting (such as a school board meeting).
Frequently Asked Questions
How does lead get into drinking water?
Lead can enter drinking water when service pipes that contain lead corrode. One of the common ways lead enters drinking water is corrosion of brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures with lead solder.
Are lead pipes common?
Yes. According to the EPA, structures built before 1974 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder. Surveys indicate Pennsylvania’s homes may have approximately 160,000 lead service lines in use, currently.
Are there allowable levels of lead in drinking water?
The Safe Drinking Water Act has reduced the maximum allowable lead content in water for it to be considered “lead-free.” The maximum allowable lead content is a weighted average of 0.25 percent calculated across the wetted surfaces of pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and fixtures and 0.2 percent for solder and flux.
What is the impact of lead on PA’s residents?
According to the Penn State Extension Program, 12 percent of homes with private well water have high levels of lead in their drinking water. Water samples collected during studies from 2007 through 2015 indicated the source of the lead contamination was plumbing in individual homes. Additionally, in 20 communities across the state, resident blood samples contained lead levels 22 percent higher than the rest of the state. Those locations included: Allentown, Altoona, Bethlehem, Erie, Johnstown, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Reading and Scranton.
Such findings were among the information provided by the State Department of Health (DOH) in its 2014 Annual Lead Surveillance Report.
Sources: Vox.com, “18 cities in Pennsylvania reported higher levels of lead exposure than Flint”; PA Department of Health, 2014 Lead Surveillance Annual Report ; Pennlive.com, “Lead Poisoning in PA: Should We Be Worried?”
Other than drinking water, how can I be exposed to lead?
Lead can be found in a variety of sources other than water, the most common of which is paint. Children living in homes constructed prior to 1950 are in danger of being exposed to lead through paint chips and dust, especially, since lead-based paint was not banned until 1978 in the U.S.
Today, Pennsylvania has the third highest number of pre-1950 homes, when lead was prevalent in construction materials, including paint. This equals approximately 40% of the state’s housing units overall.
In Butler County nearly 56 percent of the homes likely contain lead building materials. Lead can be found in almost 77 percent of Altoona’s housing. In Philadelphia, 95 percent of housing contains lead, and Philadelphia’s school buildings are 70 years old on-average. Philadelphia School District estimated it would cost $4.5 billion to make overall repairs to its facilities.
According to the National Center for Healthy Housing, every 1 dollar invested in lead hazard remediation would provide a $221 societal savings.
Sources: PA Department of Health, PA Safe and Healthy Homes Program; Philly.com, “Philadelphia School Buildings Need Almost $5B in Repairs”; City & State Pennsylvania, “Uphill Climb Resolving Pennsylvania’s Lead Paint Crisis.”
How do I determine if my drinking water contains lead?
If your home’s water is provided by a local water supplier, request a copy of the latest Consumer Confidence Report from that supplier. This will tell you about the quality of your water, including lead levels. If you have private well water, you may contact a certified drinking water laboratory to perform testing, or your may test the water yourself by purchasing a water test kit from a DEP regional office.
What should I do if I think my home contains lead?
If your house was constructed prior to 1950, the DOH reports it is more likely to contain lead-based paint, which could pose a health hazard to you and your children. Contact a certified lead professional to have your home tested and evaluated for lead. If you are planning to perform repairs or maintenance to your home and it was built prior to 1978, make sure your contractor is a Certified Renovator. This will ensure he or she employs lead safety techniques while on the job.
Source: PA Department of Labor and Industry, Lead Occupations: Certifications and Other Requirements,
What should I do if I think someone has been exposed to lead?
Presently, the EPA and CDC recommend parents undertake preventative measures that will help children avoid lead exposure; however, if you believe you or someone in your family has been exposed to lead, contact a medical professional immediately. They may need to undergo a blood lead test and discuss other actions and treatments that may be necessary with their medical care provider.
Sources: Environmental Protection Agency, Protect Your Family from Exposures to Lead, https://www.epa.gov/lead/protect-your-family-exposures-lead#testdw ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lead Prevention Tips, https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips.htm;
I am seeking general information and guidance about lead contamination.
Call the DOH’s Lead Information Line at #1-800-440-LEAD or the National Lead Information Center at #1-800-424-LEAD.
What should I do if I think my home contains lead?
If your house was constructed prior to 1950, the DOH reports it is more likely to contain lead-based paint, which could pose a health hazard to you and your children. Contact a certified lead professional to have your home tested and evaluated for lead. If you are planning to perform repairs or maintenance to your home and it was built prior to 1978, make sure your contractor is a Certified Renovator. This will ensure he or she employs lead safety techniques while on the job.
Source: PA Department of Labor and Industry, Lead Occupations: Certifications and Other Requirements, https://www.dli.pa.gov/Individuals/Labor-Management-Relations/bois/Pages/Lead-Occupations.aspx#g
I am seeking general information and guidance about lead contamination.
Call the DOH’s Lead Information Line at #1-800-440-LEAD or the National Lead Information Center at #1-800-424-LEAD.
Sources
Sources: Act 39, Section 742 (posting testing results)
PA Department of Environmental Protection, Testimony of Lisa Daniels for PA Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Hearing, Oct. 30, 2017, http://files.dep.state.pa.us/Water/DrinkingWater/Lead/DEP%20Daniels%20Testimony%20Lead%20Exposure%20and%20Mitigation.pdf ; PA Department of Environmental Protection, Lead in Drinking Water: Information for Schools and Day Cares, https://www.dep.pa.gov/Citizens/My-Water/PublicDrinkingWater/Pages/Lead-and-Drinking-Water.aspx; Penn State Extension, “Lead in Drinking Water,” https://extension.psu.edu/lead-in-drinking-water ; City & State Pennsylvania, “Uphill Climb Resolving Pennsylvania’s Lead Paint Crisis,” https://www.cityandstatepa.com/content/uphill-climb-resolving-pennsylvanias-lead-paint-crisis .