EVERETT — The School District in Everett plans to test the water in all schools and support services buildings this month.
Everett Public Schools is the latest governmental body to do so after lead was found in the water in 13 Tacoma schools and several Tacoma homes in April.
Since then, the city of Everett and the Snohomish and Marysville school districts have run tests. Everett’s came back clean, while Marysville’s test results revealed slightly elevated levels of lead at two schools.
Initially the Everett district didn’t intend to test its water, but then Superintendent Gary Cohn announced a change in policy on Tuesday.
“If you don’t do the tests, you’ll always have questions,” district spokeswoman Mary Waggoner said.
“It seemed like a wise thing to do.”
The district doesn’t expect to find any new problems with the testing.
Most of the problems with the water in Tacoma were traced to schools that used lead pipes and were built before 1960. Some homes had steel pipes that were soldered with lead.
None of the piping in Everett’s schools are that old, and none of the buildings have lead piping or soldering that the district’s maintenance department is aware of, Waggoner said.
It is already known that North Middle School has lead in its water, with an average concentration of 10.8 parts per billion detected in the water fountains. Four sinks tested with more than 20 parts per billion, which is the Environmental Protection Agency’s limit for facilities like schools.
The district has filters installed on the drinking fountains, Waggoner said.
North Middle School is slated for extensive renovations now that district voters approved a $149.7 million bond measure in the April 26 special election.
Testing on school buildings will take place in the early mornings or on the weekends so as to not disrupt classes.
Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @Chris_At_Herald.
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