WILMINGTON, MA — The Town is continuing its proactive testing of water fixtures in response to recent reports of elevated lead and copper in school water supplies throughout the country.
Since the close of the school year, the Town has expanded its testing to all faucets including those found in classrooms and other locations. Though not specifically used for a source of drinking water or water used for food preparation, the Town is taking every possible precaution to ensure the water is safe for drinking from these fixtures.
The Town recently received test results from 92 fixtures located in the West Intermediate School, Shawsheen School, Middle School, and the Boutwell School. The results indicate water from 23 of the fixtures located in the West Intermediate School, Shawsheen School, and Boutwell School have lead levels at or above the “action level” of 15 parts per billion.
The Public Buildings Department is working with the School Department to review the list of fixtures and develop a plan. The plan will include replacing those fixtures that are needed, and capping and removing fixtures not needed for the effective operation of the school.
The Wilmington Department of Public Works tests the Town’s water supply for lead, as required by the Environmental Protection Agency and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection regulations. It is not in the water source, however lead and copper can be evident if the fixtures where the water is coming from contain either of these metals. The evidence of lead and copper increases when a fixture has not been used in days or weeks.
Lead and copper can be toxic metals if ingested in elevated doses. The Town is taking all necessary steps to eliminate the source of the exposure and ensure the water in the schools is safe to drink.
The Board of Health encourages parents to speak with their pediatrician if they are interested in testing their child for lead.
The Town expects to receive additional test results from the remaining inventory of fixtures in the coming weeks. Fixtures found to be above the Action Levels for lead and copper will be taken out of service or replaced as quickly as possible.
For more information, contact Town Manager, Jeffrey Hull, at 978-658-3311 or at jhull@wilmingtonma.gov. For further information about school operations, contact School Superintendent Mary DeLai at 978-694-6000 or at Mary.Delai@wpsk12.com.
(NOTE: The above press release is from the Wilmington Town Manager’s Office.)
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