Memphis Shelby County Schools (MSCS) announced that lead levels were found at 27 water sources across 24 school campuses.
“MSCS has received laboratory results indicating that 27 individual water sources across 24 school campuses have tested for lead levels at or above 15 parts per billion (ppb),” the district said in a statement. “Of those, specific water sources tested at or above 20 ppb, exceeding the actionable threshold established by law.”
The district said facility kitchen sinks, concession areas and stadiums, ice machines and water have impacted.
“These results pertain to individual fixtures and are not representative of the entire school building’s water supply,” the district said.
MSCS said these sources have been taken out of service and will be corrected and retested within 90 days. The district’s nutritional center is also ensuring that “alternative water sources are available in all affected kitchen areas.”
The Board of Education, the Tennessee Department of Education, the Department of Environment and Conservation, the Department of Health, and the Shelby County Health Department have been notified per state law and school board policy.
Parents, students, and staff have also been notified.
“Please be advised, we continue to provide bottled water to affected schools, and all of them have water filtration machines and hand sanitizer, which means students do not ever have to come in contact with the school’s water,” MSCS said.