Dear Parents/Guardians, Students, and Staff,
On February 1, 2025, GALENA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL conducted sampling for lead in drinking water. While the major source of lead exposure in most children is paint, lead in plumbing fixtures can add to a person’s overall exposure. Drinking water in schools and homes may contain lead from old lead pipes, plumbing fixtures (e.g. fountains and faucets), or solder that joins pipe sections together. A school designee sampled 14 taps that are commonly used for drinking and cooking and sent them to a certified drinking water laboratory for analysis.
2 of the taps sampled had results at or above 5 parts per billion (ppb) for lead in school drinking water. These taps were located in the Teacher’s Lounge and were not accessible to children. 14 total samples were tested, 2 requiring action based on our school testing plan.
Kent County Public Schools has taken the following steps to reduce lead exposure to students/staff:
- The school principal was informed of all levels.
- A flush sample was taken before the outlets were removed, and samples have been sent out for further testing by the State Water Testing Facility.
- The 2 affected faucets have been completely removed from the room.
Our school is committed to protecting student, teacher, and staff health. If you have questions about a lead sample result at a specific tap and actions taken, or if you have concerns, please contact Joseph Wheeler at 410-778-7117 or
[email protected]
Sincerely,
Joseph Wheeler