MARYSVILLE — Workers tested water at every one of Marysville School District campuses Tuesday amid heightened attention on the potential of lead-contaminated drinking water.
Samples were collected from drinking fountains and kitchen sinks at each of the district’s 11 elementary schools, four middle schools and eight high schools and sent to a Burlington lab with results due back as early as next week.
The district voluntarily conducted the tests after discovery of high lead levels in water at several elementary schools and a handful of older homes in Tacoma.
“The Marysville School District does testing on a case-by-case basis, but this is the first time we are doing a district-wide test,” said spokeswoman Emily Wicks. “The purpose is to assure all efforts have been put forth to fully understand our local water condition, and establish a district-wide baseline.”
In Tacoma, the contamination has been linked to old lead pipes and fixtures. Those are now getting replaced in that community.
Wicks said the district gets its water from the city and there have been no problems with the supply. The city reviewed its records related to drinking water and its service connections and found nothing to indicate lead lines in its service area, she said.
It’s not as clear with piping for the schools themselves.
“We cannot confirm for sure, but due to the age of some of our school buildings, it’s likely that some have lead pipes or lead fixtures,” she said.
Hence the decision to test. Each test costs $48 and samples will be sent to Edge Analytical in Burlington, she said.
Marysville is the second area district to take this precautionary path.
Snohomish School District officials said last week water will be tested at Cathcart and Emerson elementary schools, the Central Primary Center and the Parkway Campus. These are the four oldest campuses with each partially or entirely built in the 1950s when lead pipes were still in use for plumbing.
The district scrubbed plans to test April 28 in order to refine how the tests will be conducted and by whom. No new date has been set.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Gov. Jay Inslee directed the Department of Health to refocus its efforts on getting lead out of water, paint and soil.
In particular, Inslee wants the department to figure out the cost of carrying out a 2009 rule that included a requirement for testing for lead in drinking water at every public school in the state. While the rule is on the books, there’s never been money allotted to implement it.
Inslee wants the department to come up with a proposal to deliver to him and the Legislature by the end of the year. State health officials estimate the cost will be around $5 million.
At a news conference Monday, Secretary of Health John Wiesman said children in Washington have some of the lowest blood lead levels compared with children in other states. But the findings in Tacoma schools were “definitely concerning” and raised awareness of the value of the rule.
“We absolutely think testing drinking water is essential and important,” he said.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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