Get the Lead out of School Drinking Water Act
In 2022, Missouri Legislation took a step forward to reduce lead exposure in Missouri children by passing the Get the Lead out of School Drinking Water Act (Section 160.077, RSMo). This Act sets a new standard in Missouri for lead concentrations in school drinking water which is lower than the lead action level set nationally by the Environmental Protection Agency for public water systems. The Act requires schools to conduct inventory, sampling, remediation, and monitoring at all potable drinking water outlets used or potentially be used for drinking, food preparation, and cooking or cleaning utensils in a school building.
Fulton Public Schools has begun the process of testing each possible drinking and food preparation source in our schools and buildings. Samples were tested to determine if the lead concentration in the water was above the required action level of five parts per billion (5 ppb), which is equal to 5 micrograms per liter. The 5 ppb level required by the state is below the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) recommended action level of 15 ppb.
The lead testing results showed one or more sources with levels of lead higher than the new 5ppb standard set by the Missouri legislature.
Due to these test results, the district will complete the following steps:
1. Provide drinking water at the school outside of water fountains if there is not enough water to meet the needs of the students, teachers, and staff.
2. Determine if the source of the lead is the water pipes of the building or the particular water fixture where the water is dispensed.
3. Install filters on the school water lines, sinks, and water fountains as needed per state guidelines.
4. Complete follow-up testing to ensure that the lead results are below five parts per billion.
FPS Lead Testing Results
For information on lead and exposure, you can find resources on the Centers For Disease Control website. Lead in Drinking Water | Sources of Lead | CDC