PORTLAND, Maine - Two schools in Yarmouth have elevated lead levels. That's according to voluntary tests performed by the school district in two of its older buildings.
Yarmouth Superintendent Andrew Dolloff says it's likely those lead levels are the result of corrosion in faucets. He says the district is already taking action to make sure students aren't exposed more than they already have been.
At Yarmouth Elementary School, three drinking fountains had elevated levels. Dolloff says they're putting bubblers in all the classrooms for now, and then replacing all the fountains and faucets where high levels were found.
"We'll replace those faucets and fountains, retest, and if the lead levels are where the other faucets and fountains, which is below the 15 part per billion, then we'll know we've addressed the issue," he says.
Fifteen parts per billion is the threshold at which the EPA says municipalities take action to reduce lead. High levels were also found in Harrison Middle School faucets.
The 240 Maine schools that get their water from wells are required to test for lead under state law - but Yarmouth Elementary and Harrison Middle schools are among those that get their water through public water supplies. They're not required to test.
The Portland Press Herald reports that environmental groups are calling for school-by-school testing across the state.
Correction: Yarmouth's elevated lead levels likely are the result of corrosion in faucets, not faucets and pipes.
