Dear Lunenburg Middle School Parents,
Lunenburg County Public Schools recently participated in a voluntary state program to test our schools’ drinking water. This program was offered to all Virginia public school facilities and specifically tests water fixtures that provide drinking or cooking water to students.
At Lunenburg Middle School, a total of 72 fixtures were tested. 99% of those fixtures did not present lead levels that exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb).
However, 1 fixture had a lead level that exceeded the EPA’s action level on the initial draw, but was back in the acceptable range after a 30-second flush. The action level of 15 ppb is not a measure of health effects; it serves as a signal for the school/child care facility to take steps to reduce lead in the water. Lead found in tap water typically comes from the corrosion of interior plumbing fixtures and materials that contain lead, not usually from the municipal water supply. The issue is specific to the identified fixture and will be addressed by the remediation plan.
The fixture of concern is located in a classroom. It is a sink used for handwashing only, not for cooking or drinking.
We have taken one or more of the following actions to address this situation:
--the teacher will flush the classroom sink weekly
--the sink will continue to be used for handwashing only--not consumption
If you would like more information about the testing process, please contact my office at 434-696-3036 Monday through Friday from 9:00-4:00.
Sincerely,
Stacey Newton,
Coordinator of Administrative Services