School districts paying to conduct lead testing

PITTSBURGH — The growing concern over lead in drinking water is causing several school districts to conduct lead testing.

It’s a step experts at Women for a Healthy Environment said is a long time coming.

The group has offered water filters to schools in western Pennsylvania for more than a year, but only recently did their phone begin to ring.

"We have seen districts actually coming to us and asking for some guidance,” said Michele Naccarati-Chapkis the director of Women for a Healthy Environment.

TRENDING NOW:

• Woman riddles restaurant with bullets after she was cut off from bar
• Teacher accused of improper relationship with student smiles in mugshot
• PHOTOS: 11 arrested during riot outside Allegheny County Jail
• Boy, 8, befriends dog with same rare skin disorder

Lead in water became a greater concern after dangerous levels were found in the drinking water at Summit Elementary School in Butler County.

Following that discovery, 11 Investigates surveyed school districts in Allegheny County on lead testing. More than 20 percent said they will begin conducting their own testing.

The Allegheny Valley School District is one of the districts now testing for lead.

"I think it was that sense of responsibility to our parents and our community to see what was out there and to be transparent about the process,” said Superintendent Patrick Craczyk.

Last week, preliminary results showed elevated lead levels in a classroom sink at Colfax Elementary School. Craczyk ordered all sinks and water founds shut off and bottled water to be used by students and staff.

"We've taken an overabundance of caution. We didn't want to alarm our parents but we owe it to them to inform them of what's going on and the steps we've taken," he said.

Parents and administrators are still awaiting the results of the lead testing.

Naccarati-Chapkis hopes more districts will begin testing for lead to ensure the water students drink is safe.

"There are many components that the water will hit before it actually comes to tap or comes to the drink water fountain and many opportunities for exposure to lead that's beyond what the water authority would report or know about,” she said.

Women for a Healthy Environment is also working on a long-term plan to help school districts pay to get their water tested.

Cox Media Group