Shockingly high results from recent lead testing done by Bangor Public Schools has sparked concern from local school officials and parents. Prompted by legislation passed last year requiring all schools to test their water for lead, Bangor is one of the first districts in Maine to complete testing and announce results.
All 10 of the Bangor schools tested reported lead in the water, including taps showing lead levels up to 375 times greater than the new state standard. While Portland has yet to share testing data, this first wave of testing confirms the pervasiveness of lead contamination in Maine schools.
Because exposure to lead at any level can have extremely detrimental effects, Portland Public Schools should respond to this health threat right away. Because of the variability of testing and the ultimate risk of contamination, the district should replace all fountains with hydration stations equipped with filters that remove lead. This solution eliminates one common source of lead (fountains) and captures lead coming from plumbing or pipes. And with federal funding flowing like never before, now is the time to seize the opportunity to make our schools safe for our children, today and for years to come.
Julia Geskey
Portland
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