Columbus City Schools Plans To Test Water For Lead
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 6:27 PM
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Administrators with Columbus City Schools on Tuesday said they have initial plans to test water in
all its schools for lead and other contaminants.
The announcement came after 10 Investigates uncovered hundreds of test results that showed
schools around the state with more than the acceptable limits of lead in their water.
Before the investigation, Columbus City had not conducted any testing on its water, 10
Investigates' Paul Aker reported.
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Investigates' Lead In Water Section
Only schools that get water from a well system were required to conduct additional testing,
even though the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency strongly encouraged it.
Columbus City Schools initially told 10 Investigates that there was no need to test, even
after a water sample from a Dublin elementary school tested high for lead, Aker reported
At Olde Sawmill Elementary, initial tests from one sample revealed lead at three times the
acceptable limit, Aker reported.
Now Columbus City Schools said it will spend about $27,000 to test the drinking water in all
its schools.
"We need to test our water," said Dr. Terry Boyd, president of the Columbus City School Board.
"Not just some schools; all our schools."
Boyd said the decision was made with the safety of students in mind.
"As a district, we feel it's important to test our water … to make sure we keep our students
safe," Boyd said. "So a decision has been made to test our water."
Sen. Sherrod Brown said all schools should test drinking water, but he also said the federal
government should help pay to fix old pipes that often elevate lead levels in water.
"There is study after study that shows exposure to lead for very small children absolutely
retards the development of the brain," Brown said.
Columbus City Schools said it would send testing out to bid. A tentative plan called for
testing to begin in June, Aker reported.
The plan would require board approval before testing begins.
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