Annual Water Testing for Lead
During SY 2023-2024, DC PCSB installed lead filters on every drinking water source in every DC public charter school. These 1,867 devices were also tested for lead. Of the 3,754 samples tested throughout all the public charter schools, only 10 devices had elevated lead levels. This means the result had a concentration of lead is 5.0 parts per billion/ppb or higher. These 10 devices were shut off and taken out of service, remediated and retested. They were returned to service after the second retest produced results below 5.0 ppb. Each year DC PCSB tests all drinking water sources to ensure lead levels are lower than 5 parts per billion, the safe level the city recommends for drinking water in schools per the Childhood Lead Exposure Prevention Amendment Act of 2017.
The types of devices tested included:
- Health suite sinks
- Staff break room sinks
- Icemakers
- Kitchen sinks used for food preparation
- Classroom sinks in early PK and K classroom
Lead testing work was completed by July 2024.
DC PCSB began testing drinking water sources in public charter schools in 2016. We are committed to ensuring that students have access to safe drinking water. DC PCSB oversees and manages the process to install filters, test for lead, label, and place signage on each device in public charter schools. This complies with the Childhood Lead Exposure Prevention Amendment Act of 2017,
Find the results of the lead testing at all DC public charter schools below.