Annual Water Testing for Lead

During SY 2020-21, DC PCSB installed lead filters on every drinking water source in every DC public charter school. Those water sources were also 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
• Classroom sinks in early PK and K classrooms.

The lead testing work was completed in July 2021.

DC PCSB tests all drinking water sources to ensure lead levels are lower than 5 parts per billion (ppb), the safe level the city recommends (see code) for drinking water in schools. There were 32 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. 

DC PCSB began testing all drinking water sources in public charter schools in 2016. We are committed to ensuring students have access to safe drinking water.  To comply with, The Childhood Lead Exposure Prevention Amendment Act of 2017, DC PCSB manages the process to install filters, test, label and place signage on each drinking water source in DC public charter schools.  

Find the results of lead testing at all DC public charter schools below.