WILMINGTON, MA – Below is a statement from the Wilmington Board of Health in response to the elevated lead levels recently found in four fixtures at three schools in Wilmington:
The Wilmington Department of Public Works regularly tests our water supply for lead. It is not in our water source, however lead and copper can be evident if the fixtures in homes and businesses where the water is coming from contain either of these metals.
The Wilmington Public Buildings Department recently tested all water fountains and kitchen faucets, as potential sources of drinking water in the Town’s schools. This was done as a proactive measure in response to recent reports of elevated lead and copper in school water supplies throughout the country.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has established a threshold for action called “Action Levels” for lead and copper in drinking water at schools and day care facilities. The Action Level for lead is 15 parts per billion (ppb). Of the 52 sources tested, including faucets and water fountains, the results found slightly elevated lead levels in four fixtures.
- Boutwell School — Front Hallway Water Fountain — + 3.1 ppb over Action Level
- Boutwell School — Room 5 Faucet — +1.8 ppb over Action Level
- Shawsheen School — Level 1B Water Fountain — +1.2 ppb over Action Level
- West Intermediate School — Kitchen Faucet — +2.6 ppb over Action Level
Exposure to lead is a concern because lead is a toxic metal that has a range of adverse health effects. The Board of Health would like to remind parents that lead levels in children are often checked prior to starting kindergarten and are not usually repeated unless there is a concern for exposure. If you are concerned about exposure to lead, talk to your local health care provider about having your child’s blood tested for lead. A blood level test is the only way to know if you are being exposed to lead.
It is possible that lead levels in your home may be higher than levels in other homes in our community as a result of materials used in your home’s plumbing. If you are concerned about lead levels in your home’s water, you may wish to have your water tested. The Town is taking all necessary steps to eliminate the source of the lead exposure and ensure the drinking water in the schools is safe.
If you are concerned about lead levels in your home’s water, you may wish to have your water tested. (A list of MassDEP-certified labs can be found HERE.)
The following sites have more information about lead in water:
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