YARMOUTH, Maine — There is concern and caution as students prepare to head back to school in Yarmouth, after high levels of lead were discovered in the water of two different buildings.
Superintendent Andrew Dolloff said the samples exceeded the EPA’s safety standard of 15 parts per billion, some only slightly and others by a larger margin. He said the district hadn’t tested the water for a couple of decades.
The higher concentrations were found at Yarmouth Elementary School in the drinking fountains and nine faucets, plus four faucets at Harrison Middle School.
Doloff said the lead was only found in the older fixtures, and fortunately none of the sinks used for food preparation showed any signs of lead.
The district is working to replace some of the faucets and fountains as soon as possible. In the meantime, they’re taking precautions.
“Tomorrow, we’re going to put five-gallon water dispensers in every classroom in the elementary school,” said Dolloff. “That way even students in classrooms where water tested fine, which is the majority of classrooms, they won’t be asking the question, ‘Is this water safe? Can I drink this?’”
“They have set out a clear plan of how they’re going to address it and they’re doing everything they need to do to keep everybody safe,” said Monica Parker, a parent of two elementary school students.
Dolloff said the tests were conducted early in the morning before any water use, to capture the highest concentrations. The water will be retested once school is in session.