Keeping Drinking Water Safe

To ensure safe drinking water throughout our schools, the district conducted extensive water testing this year.

Per the new Missouri “Get the Lead Out of School Drinking Water Act,” a new law to ensure safe drinking water in all school districts throughout the state, the district hired a professional environmental consulting firm to conduct lead testing for all drinking and food preparing (cooking/cleaning) water sources in our school buildings.

Our testing identified water sources in our district with lead concentration at or above the new five (5) parts per billion (ppb) (5 micrograms per liter) standard. The 5 ppb level now required by the state is below the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) recommended action level of 15 ppb.

As part of its commitment to safety, LSR7 also chose to perform additional tests of water sources intended for hand washing, cleaning or other non-drinking purposes, such as classroom sinks.

This webpage provides information to keep our school community fully informed about the safety of our water systems.

Overview

The primary purpose of the new law is to ensure safety in drinking and food preparation.

LSR7 tested more than 1,100 water sources used for drinking and/or food preparation. and an additional 1,400 tests of water sources used for hand washing, cleaning or other non-drinking purposes, such as classroom sinks.
Altogether, the district tested more than 2,500 water sources throughout the district.
97 percent of LSR7’s water fountains met new state standards and 99 percent met federal standards

97 percent of LSR7’s water fountains met new state standards and 99 percent met federal standards.

Remedial Actions

The district has taken immediate steps to restrict access to all water sources identified through testing.

All drinking and cooking sources exceeding action levels have been turned off until they can be successfully remediated.
Appropriate signage has been placed on non-drinking water sources exceeding action levels until they can be successfully remediated.

We are evaluating each source for the best remediation option, such as removing or replacing equipment or inserting industry-standard filters certified for lead reduction. The district will retest all water sources identified through this process to ensure successful remediation.

Read our LSR7: Safe Drinking Water Plan

LSR7 Safe Drinking Water Plan

Why is LSR7 testing water now?
All public schools, private schools, or providers of early childhood education programs, which receive state funding, are required to comply with the Get the Lead Out of School Drinking Water Act (2022), which set a new action level of five parts per billion (5 ppb) for lead in school drinking water. The district initiated testing ahead of the state’s August 2024 deadline to ensure relevant water sources meet new standards as quickly as possible.

What water sources did LSR7 test?
Per the new state statute, LSR7 tested water sources in school buildings used for drinking, food preparation and cooking or cleaning kitchen utensils, such as water fountains, ice-machines and kitchen equipment. Additionally, out of an abundance of caution, LSR7 also tested classroom sinks that are intended to be used for hand washing, cleaning or other non-drinking purposes.

How does lead get into water sources?
From the EPA: Lead can enter drinking water when plumbing materials that contain lead corrode, especially where the water has high acidity or low mineral content that corrodes pipes and fixtures. The most common sources of lead in drinking water are lead pipes, faucets, and fixtures. In homes with lead pipes that connect the home to the water main, also known as lead services lines, these pipes are typically the most significant source of lead in the water. Lead pipes are more likely to be found in older cities and homes built before 1986. Among homes without lead service lines, the most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and plumbing with lead solder.

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) has reduced the maximum allowable lead content -- that is, content that is considered "lead-free" -- to be a weighted average of 0.25 percent calculated across the wetted surfaces of pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and fixtures and 0.2 percent for solder and flux...Read more.

While plumbing materials are required to be "lead-free", the law allows materials with up to .25 lead to be labeled "lead-free". Lead typically enters drinking water through the plumbing system when pipes, fittings or solder used to connect pipes corrode or wear down, releasing materials with some concentration of lead into water. While LSR7 will evaluate the cause for each elevated water sample, we do not anticipate any issues with water supply and expect that replacing equipment and/or inserting filters certified for lead reduction will mitigate issues.

What action steps is LSR7 taking to remediate water sources with lead concentrations above the new state standards?
The Missouri “Get the Lead Out of School Drinking Water Act” set an action level of 5 parts per billion (ppb) for lead concentration found in water. Upon receiving final lab results, LSR7 has taken immediate steps to restrict access to all water sources exceeding this level, including turning off all drinking and cooking water sources and placing appropriate signage on classroom sinks typically used for non-drinking purposes. The district is evaluating each source for the best remediation option, such as removing or replacing equipment or inserting industry-standard filters certified for lead reduction. The district will retest all water sources identified through this process to ensure our remediation efforts have been effective in meeting safe water standards before sources may be used again.

Will LSR7 retest water sources identified through this process?
Yes. State law requires the district to test remediated water sources prior to being placed back in service. Additionally, drinking water sources found to have concentrations less than 5 parts per billion must be tested every five years.

Health Information: Lead Exposure

Is there a safe level of lead in drinking water?

According to the EPA, lead is harmful to human health at any level. Young children, infants and pregnant people are particularly vulnerable to lead because the toxic metal can have a greater effect on young people than adults. Lead exposure in children can result in behavior and learning problems, lower ID and hyperactivity, slowed growth, hearing problems and anemia. The following resources provide information about health effects of exposure to lead in drinking water.

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Service: H ealth Effects of Lead
Jackson County Health Department: Lead Exposure & Testing
Kansas City Health Department: Testing Children and Homes for Lead

What should I do if I'm concerned about lead exposure?

Contact your health provider: Individuals should always seek advice about drinking water from their health care provider. A healthcare provider can help determine if a child should have a blood test for lead. The Jackson County Health Department has additional FAQs on this topic on its Lead Exposure & Testing page. KCHD programs also include testing for lead exposure. Learn more.

Call the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline: This hotline is a resource for those seeking information about lead or water contaminants. EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline - 1.800.426.4791

Does lead in water pose a threat if not consumed?

According to the EPA, skin does not readily absorb lead in water; therefore even if lead were present, actions such as handwashing do not represent a health risk even when hands have minor cuts or scrapes.

Test Results & Summary

Aquatic Center

Bernard Campbell Middle School

At Bernard Campbell Middle School, 151 samples were tested. 101 samples met state standards.

Four drinking/cooking sources and 46 additional water sources had concentrations of lead above the newly established State of Missouri action level of 5 ppb.

Drinking/cooking sources:

Kitchen Prep Sink: 6.3 ppb
Kitchen Post Dishwasher Sprayer: 23.4 ppb
Kitchen Combi-Oven: 5.4 ppb
Drinking Fountain in Technology Room 17: 5.7 ppb

Other sources:

Room 231 Sinks: 6.5 - 12.5 ppb
Room 230: 7.6 - 8.9 ppb
Room 237 Science Prep Room: 123 ppb
Room 229 Middle North Sink: 8.6 ppb
Room 239 Sinks: 6.1 - 11.8 ppb
Room 238: 8.2 - 29.5 ppb
Room 236: 7.7 - 20.1 ppb
Room 223: 9.4 - 51.7 ppb
Biology Prep Between Room 223 & 221: 6.0 ppb
Room 221 Sinks: 6.9 - 10.5 ppb
Room 217 Sinks: 10.7 - 31.9 ppb
Sewing Lab 38: 7.2 ppb

Please note that the range fields above indicate multiple sinks in one room.

Keeping Drinking Water Safe

Overview

Remedial Actions

Regulations

Community Resources:

Other Resources: