Schools fixing water sources cited for lead after WA limits lowered

Before next July, DOH is required to work with school districts to test drinking water outlets in buildings erected prior to 2016.

Upgrades to address several sources in the Central Kitsap School District cost around $2,000.

Central Kitsap schools last month finished remediation work on three dozen water fixtures across nine of its schools, all of which had been flagged for “elevated” levels of lead, defined as a concentration of at least 5 parts per billion.

All but six of these sinks would have been considered to have permissible levels of lead four years ago, back when Washington allowed concentrations three times the current threshold to go unremediated.

Acknowledging exposure to even low concentrations can be harmful, especially for young children, Washington initiated stricter re