Elevated lead levels have been detected in the drinking water at a number of Delta schools. The district issued an advisory to parents late Friday afternoon (http://facilities.deltasd.bc.ca/water-quality) that noted tests revealed a majority of the schools examined showed positive lead levels above the maximum acceptable level in "pre-flush" pipe water. Testing continues as lead above the maximum allowable limit was found at several schools after "post-flush" testing. It has prompted the daily flushing of some drinking fountains and the removal of others. The district a couple of weeks ago first informed parents that elevated lead levels had been detected in the drinking water at three older schools. The facilities department put together an initial mitigation plan that included removing suspect drinking fountains, school administrators in older schools conducting daily morning flushes of all pipes, while water testing was conducted in all the schools built before 1989. The district noted there are no lead pipes in any of the schools’ water systems, so the problem is likely external. The province earlier this year told districts to evaluate their water quality and establish plans.
