During SY19-20, DC PCSB installed lead filters on every drinking water source in every DC public charter school. Those water sources are currently being tested for lead. Roughly 1,700 drinking water sources in public charter schools had lead filters installed: drinking fountains (both bubbler and water cooler style), health suite sinks, staff break room sinks, icemakers, kitchen sinks used for food preparation, and classroom sinks in early childhood (PK and K) classrooms. The lead testing work should be completed by the end of December 2019.
DC PCSB tests all drinking water sources to ensure that lead levels are lower than 5 parts per billion (ppb) which is the safe level the city recommends (see code) for drinking water in schools. There were 5 sources that had elevated lead levels of all the sources tested. However, those sources were taken out of service and remediated, and filters were replaced and retested. Retested results were within the normal range.
This work is part of an ongoing commitment to student safety. It began in 2016 when DC PCSB tested all drinking water sources in every public charter school for lead. Those that had elevated lead levels were remediated. The Childhood Lead Exposure Prevention Amendment Act of 2017, which was introduced by Councilmembers Mary Cheh and David Grosso, [Allen, Todd, Nadeau, Evans, R. White, McDuffie & Bonds were also introducers], requires the installation of filters, testing, labeling and placement of signage on each drinking water source in District public schools. The Council and the Deputy Mayor for Education provided funding so that DC PCSB could ensure that this work was completed in all public charter schools.
You can also find the results of lead testing at all DC public charter schools below.
2019 Lead Testing Results
Find the results of lead testing at all DC public charter schools in SY 19-20.