Elevated lead levels found at 3 Clark County schools

(Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @bleblancphoto) The Clark County School District found elevated lead levels in certain water fixtures at three elementary schools in districtwide testing that began in November, but no contamination was detected in drinking fountains.
The lead testing was conducted as part of a $90,000 grant that paired the district with the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection to test 213 schools built before 1989.
At Dondero Elementary, the water from one kitchen faucet had a lead level as high as 36 parts per billion, well above the 20 parts per billion action level designated by the grant, according to a district spokeswoman Melinda Malone.
That sink was not used for food preparation or consumption, Malone said, and students do not have access to it.
Even though a water fountain that was tested showed acceptable lead levels, officials still brought in water coolers for drinking water out of an abundance of caution.
After authorities replaced the faucet and flushed out the school’s water system, the water was retested and no longer showed elevated levels of lead, according to the district.
Lead testing under the grant will continue until this September, with spot tests mainly conducted on one kitchen sink and one drinking fountain at each school.
The district has tested 15 schools so far.
The Las Vegas Valley Water District is assisting with the grant work by conducting concurrent testing of the municipal water being fed to schools, said Bronson Mack, spokesman for the utility.
Contact Amelia Pak-Harvey at apak-harvey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4630.

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