WASHINGTON COUNTY, Virginia (WCYB) — Five schools in Washington County, Virginia, will stop using drinking fountains after recent tests revealed changing lead levels in the water.

The Washington County Utility Authority conducted the tests following new regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency requiring water used in schools to be tested for lead by 2028.

The school system was notified that four schools (Meadowview Elementary, Watauga Elementary, Glade Spring Middle School and Holston High School) had at least one water fixture with a lead level below 10 parts per billion. When lead levels are below 10 parts per billion, schools should consider mitigation strategies such as rinsing water before use, according to EPA guidance. However, the school system decided to stop using fountains in these schools as a precaution.

Greendale Elementary School had two pieces of equipment that tested above 10 parts per billion. In such cases, EPA recommends discontinuing use of the water source and initiating remediation efforts.

Affected schools will provide bottled water to students and staff until the issue is resolved.

The following letter was sent to students’ parents:

Good evening,

On October 26, 2024, new regulations approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) required water used in schools to be tested for lead by 2028. The Washington County Utility Authority has already conducted testing to avoid this requirement. for lead in all Washington County Public Schools buildings. They tested 5 fixtures in each school, at least 2 fixtures in the kitchens, and water fountains in various parts of the school.

There are three possible results from the tests:

*Escaping detection: Practice good water habits

*Less than 10 parts per billion (ppb): Consider risk mitigation measures such as washing before use

*More than 10 parts per billion (ppb): Stop using the water source and take remediation steps

In my meeting with the Washington County Utility Authority and Drinking Water Office this afternoon, I learned that four of our schools have at least one plumbing that tests less than 10 ppb (Meadowview Elementary School – 2 plumbing, Watauga Elementary School – 1 plumbing, Glade Spring) Middle School -1 fixture and Holston High School -2 fixture.) There were two fixtures at one school that tested above 10 ppb (Greendale Primary School)

As a result, we will immediately begin taking additional measures in these five schools. Only Non-Detection tested fixtures will be available for cooking purposes in these schools. This is above and beyond EPA recommended protocols. As an added precaution, we will begin the process of testing every fixture in these buildings tomorrow morning, starting with Greendale Elementary School. Once testing is completed in the 5 schools we mentioned earlier, we will begin the process of testing all fixtures in the remaining schools as an additional precaution.

As we mentioned before, we will cut off the drinking water fixtures (e.g. fountains) in these 5 schools until the problem is solved. As a result we will be providing bottled water to students and staff, but please feel free to send water from home with your child.

Additional information, including FAQs and an informational brochure provided by the Washington County Utility Authority and Drinking Water Office, can be found on our website at this link: https://www.wcs.k12.va.us/documents/washington-county-service-authority-information /722977

We will continue to work with the Washington County Utility Authority, Office of Drinking Water, and Virginia Department of Health to ensure we provide the safest possible environment for our students and staff while providing the latest information to our stakeholders.

If you are concerned about this matter, we will work with the agencies listed above to respond to your questions.

Thank you,

Keith Perrigan, Ed.D.