California School District ‘Did Not Communicate’ Presence of Lead in Water to Families

Mar. 15, 2025

Stock image of a school water fountain.Photo:Getty

Getty

A California school district said it didn’t notify families about the presence of lead in thewater supply,which could impact more than 45,000 students.The Oakland Unified School District in Northern California sent a letter home to families explaining that they hadn’t notified them earlier about the lead, which was found in nearly 200 drinking fountains and water faucets.“Despite our attention to detail and care for our sites, we did not communicate effectively to the members of each school community as the testing launched, as we received the results, and as fixes were being implemented,” said the letter, viaNBC News.Stock image of children washing their hands in a school bathroom.Getty"We are putting systems in place to ensure a lack of effective communication does not occur again, and that school communities receive quick notice when this kind of testing is taking place on their campuses," the letter said, according to NBC News.According to the outlet, the school district — which is the 11th largest in the state with more than 45,000 students — had tested the fixtures forlead concentrationsof more than 5 parts per billion (ppb).That baseline is lower than state and federal guidelines of 15 ppb.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The investigation found that 116 fixtures tested at more than 5 ppb and less than 15 ppb; and 70 fixtures tested at levels beyond the state and federal standards of 15 ppb.Lead exposure is dangerous for children, according to theEnvironmental Protection Agency.“Even low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in behavior and learning problems,” the agency says, adding that it can cause lower IQ and hyperactivity, slowed growth, hearing problems, and anemia.The Oakland Unified School District holds a meeting in 2022.Melina Mara/The Washington Post via GettyTheagencyalso notes, “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 school district’s statement said that “61 fixtures have been fixed so far” and that the process is still ongoing, according to NBC News.“Nearly half of schools discovered lead in their drinking water,” theNational Association of State Boards of Educationsaid — noting that not all states test their water.Only 13 states have policies in place totest schoolwater supplies for lead, theNASBEsays — and no states have policies in place to test for lead paint.

A California school district said it didn’t notify families about the presence of lead in thewater supply,which could impact more than 45,000 students.

The Oakland Unified School District in Northern California sent a letter home to families explaining that they hadn’t notified them earlier about the lead, which was found in nearly 200 drinking fountains and water faucets.

“Despite our attention to detail and care for our sites, we did not communicate effectively to the members of each school community as the testing launched, as we received the results, and as fixes were being implemented,” said the letter, viaNBC News.

Stock image of children washing their hands in a school bathroom.Getty

“We are putting systems in place to ensure a lack of effective communication does not occur again, and that school communities receive quick notice when this kind of testing is taking place on their campuses,” the letter said, according to NBC News.

According to the outlet, the school district — which is the 11th largest in the state with more than 45,000 students — had tested the fixtures forlead concentrationsof more than 5 parts per billion (ppb).

That baseline is lower than state and federal guidelines of 15 ppb.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The investigation found that 116 fixtures tested at more than 5 ppb and less than 15 ppb; and 70 fixtures tested at levels beyond the state and federal standards of 15 ppb.

Lead exposure is dangerous for children, according to theEnvironmental Protection Agency.

“Even low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in behavior and learning problems,” the agency says, adding that it can cause lower IQ and hyperactivity, slowed growth, hearing problems, and anemia.

The Oakland Unified School District holds a meeting in 2022.Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty

Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty

Theagencyalso notes, “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 school district’s statement said that “61 fixtures have been fixed so far” and that the process is still ongoing, according to NBC News.

“Nearly half of schools discovered lead in their drinking water,” theNational Association of State Boards of Educationsaid — noting that not all states test their water.

Only 13 states have policies in place totest schoolwater supplies for lead, theNASBEsays — and no states have policies in place to test for lead paint.

source: people.com