November 11, 2016

Richardson ISD Statement on Lead Testing

(Editors Note: The following information was pulled from an e-mail from Richardson ISDs Public
Information Officer.)
We believe the drinking water in RISD schools is safe. RISD chose to begin a drinking water sampling &
testing program in August as an added precaution based on some of the news stories nationally about lead in
drinking water at schools.
The district has completed two phases of a drinking water sampling and testing program that has focused on
the oldest RISD buildings/equipment at nine schools so far. Results indicated that lead levels in drinking
water were well below the EPA threshold for safe drinking water (EPA advises that 15.0 parts per billion is
the safe threshold, and RISDs results have ranged between 0 and 3.7 ppb).
Test Results
School
Dover ES
Richardson HS
Lake Highlands JH
Spring Valley ES
Heights ES
Terrace ES
MST ES
Hamilton Park ES
Lake Highlands ES

Lead Parts per Billion*

1.5
None Detected (ND)
ND
ND
1.2
2.3
3.7
3.2
2.9

*EPA advises that 15.0 parts per billion is the safe threshold
The sampling/testing program is ongoing, with additional testing planned quarterly.
RISD does not utilize the type of electric water fountains that resulted in elevated lead levels in FWISD, and
none of our drinking fountains, faucets or fixtures contain lead components or reservoirs containing
lead.
Here is some info that weve put together related to RISDs efforts to mitigate lead in drinking water at our
schools:
-

All drinking fountains and faucet fixtures in RISD schools have been replaced since 2001, and are
compliant with the Lead Contamination Control Act that governs lead in fixtures like water
fountains. (As you may be aware, lead issues found in other ISDs have been connected to older,
non-compliant drinking fountains/fixtures).
There are no lead water lines or pipes in any RISD school.
The district follows EPA recommendations for schools to reduce lead in drinking water, including
elements like checking grounding wires, replacing lead pipes, reconfiguring older plumbing systems,
and only using lead-free solders.
RISD has no record of ever receiving a report of a lead-related illness in a student or staff member,
and it is a topic covered in the training of RISD school nurses.
Personnel flush out water and drinking fountain lines before school begins to purge potential
accumulation of contaminants that can occur when water sits in lines over a longer period.