Water Quality Testing

Overview

Edmonds School District has a water quality testing program to manage drinking water fixtures district-wide. As of 2021, Washington state law (RCW 28A.210.410 and RCW 43.70.830) requires drinking water in all K–12 public schools built, or with all plumbing replaced, before 2016 be tested for lead. The purpose of lead testing is to identify drinking water outlets that are potential sources of lead exposure. It is natural for lead to accumulate in older or infrequently used drinking water outlets. These outlets are identified through testing so they can be shut off or replaced to reduce exposure to lead from school drinking water.

Edmonds School District will take action on all water outlets with lead levels greater than 5 parts per billion as outlined below:

Develop action plans for water outlets if lead levels exceed 5 parts per billion within six months.

Outlets that exceed 15 parts per billion will be addressed as soon as possible:

These locations will be shut down and removed from service, to be resolved when the action plan is implemented.

Some remediation may include the following actions:

Cleaning or replacing aerators
Repairing or replacing fixtures using certified lead-free materials
Retesting water to ensure remediation
Receiving retesting results from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH)

Testing Reports

Alderwood Early Childhood Center (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan (in development) - Status: Remediation in Progress

Brier Elementary (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan - Status: Remediation in Progress

Brier Terrace Middle School (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan - Status: Remediation in Progress

Cedar Way Elementary (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan - Status: Remediation in Progress

Chase Lake Elementary (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan - Status: Remediation Complete, Awaiting Retesting

College Place Elementary (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan - Status: Remediation Complete, Awaiting Retesting

College Place Middle School (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan (in development) - Status: Remediation in Progress

Edmonds Elementary (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan - Status: Remediation in Progress

Edmonds-Woodway High School (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan (in development) - Status: Remediation in Progress

Hazelwood Elementary (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan - Status: Remediation Complete, Awaiting Retesting

Hilltop Elementary (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan - Status: Remediation Complete

Lynnwood High School (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan (in development) - Status: Remediation in Progress

Maplewood K-8 (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan (in development) - Status: Remediation in Progress

Martha Lake Elementary (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan (in development) - Status: Remediation in Progress

Meadowdale Elementary (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan (in development) - Status: Remediation in Progress

Meadowdale Middle School (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan (in development) - Status: Remediation in Progress

Meadowdale High School (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan (in development) - Status: Remediation in Progress

Mountlake Terrace High School (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan (in development) - Status: Remediation in Progress

Oak Heights Elementary School (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan (in development) - Status: Remediation in Progress

Seaview Elementary (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan - Status: Remediation Complete, Awaiting Retesting

Sherwood Elementary (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan - Status: Remediation Complete, Awaiting Retesting

Terrace Park Elementary (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan - Status: Remediation Complete, Awaiting Retesting

Westgate Elementary (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan - Status: Remediation in Progress

Woodway Campus (Scriber Lake HS, Edmonds Heights and E-Learning) (Report - Community Notification - Action/Remediation Plan (in development) - Status: Remediation in Progress

Frequently Asked Questions

What is lead?

According to the EPA, lead is distributed in the environment through both natural and man-made means. Today, the greatest contributions of lead to the environment stem from past human activities. Sources of lead exposure include:

Lead-based paint
Lead in the air from industrial emissions
Lead in soil from past emissions due to leaded gas as well as lead paint chips and dust
Lead in industrial or consumer products or food, which can be found in some imported candies; medicines, dishes, toys, jewelry and plastics or byproducts of lead production
Lead in water

How is it determined if levels of lead are too high?

To protect public health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set standards for drinking water for lead. They recommend schools take action to reduce the level of lead when found above 15 parts per billion (ppb). Edmonds School District follows RCW 28A.210.410 which sets the threshold to take action on drinking water fixtures that test over five parts per billion (ppb). It is important to note that these action levels are not a measure of health effects but are signals to take steps to reduce the amount of lead in drinking the water.

How does lead get into drinking water?

Lead may get into drinking water in two ways:

By being present in the source water, such as coming from contaminated runoff

Through an interaction between the water and plumbing materials.

Public water systems that provide water to schools and homes in our area meet strict guidelines for testing their water sources and meet federal and state public health standards for lead. Some lead may get into the water from the distribution system – the network of pipes that carry the water from the public water system source to homes, businesses, and schools in the community. Interior plumbing, soldered joints, leaded brass fittings, and drinking water fixtures that contain lead materials are the primary contributors of lead in drinking water.

How does testing work for drinking water?

A sample of water is taken and tested by a certified laboratory. Tests are conducted on a prioritized sample basis, which includes collecting samples from drinking water fixtures which are classified as drinking fountains, water bottle filling stations, classroom bubblers, and food prep fixtures and sprayers. Laboratory analysis test results indicate any levels of lead found in the water sample which are stated in parts per billion (ppb).

PRESCHOOL

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

High Schools

Other Learning options

SITE SEARCH

STAFF DIRECTORY SEARCH

POPULAR SEARCHES

In This Section