Levels of lead exceeding federal standards were found in water samples taken from nine Howard County schools during a county review of school facilities.

Samples were taken from fixtures at Patapsco Middle School and St. John’s Lane Elementary School, in Ellicott City; Talbott Springs Elementary, Jeffers Hill Elementary, Oakland Mills Middle School and Oakland Mills High School, in Columbia; and three Clarksville schools, Pointers Run Elementary, Clarksville Elementary and Clarksville Middle.

Glenwood Middle School also underwent lead testing but none was detected, according to the school system.

In most of the cases, levels exceeding federal standards were in water drawn from sink fixtures — not drinking fountains. Samples were collected between Sept. 13 and Oct. 16.

“Faucets are turned off upon finding lead, so they are not used until they have been successfully remediated,” Jahantab Siddiqui, chief communications officer for the school system, said in an email. In addition, a notice is emailed to parents and families if lead exceeds 20 parts per billion, according to schools spokesman Brian Bassett.

The Maryland Department of the Environment requires water at a faucet or fountain be shut off if lead levels exceed 20 parts per billion.

All 77 Howard schools will be tested for lead by 2020 under provisions of a new state law that mandates inspections in jurisdictions across Maryland. According to the state environmental department, testing must occur once every three years and be conducted when school is in session.

Drinking fountains, cafeteria sinks, ice machines and any other outlets that dispense cooking or drinking water are to be sampled. These are the results of the recent Howard County tests:

At Oakland Mills High School, 62 samples were taken and two cases of lead were found: in a kitchen sink and a hose bib on a stadium concession stand.

At Patapsco Middle, 44 samples were taken and five cases of lead were found: four in classroom sinks and in one kitchen sink.

Of 43 samples collected at Talbott Springs, five elevated lead levels were found: in two classroom sinks, two classroom faucets — not the fountain portion — and in one administrative work room sink.

At Clarksville Elementary, 38 samples were collected, with one case found in a sink fixture.

At St. John’s Elementary, 33 samples were taken, and a lead level exceeding standards was found in one classroom sink.

At Clarksville Middle, 31 samples were taken, with two cases found: in a planning office sink and a science office sink.

Of 100 samples taken from Pointers Run Elementary, one sample exceeding lead standards was found in a classroom fountain. The fountain was off during the sample and so, “turning on [the] valve to collect a sample may have influenced results,” according to school data.

At Jeffers Hill Elementary, 25 samples were taken and lead levels were found in one sink fixture.

And of the 22 samples collected from Oakland Mills Middle on Sept. 29, five sinks — two classroom sinks and three science preparation room sinks — were found with lead levels exceeding standards.

As part of the state-mandated review, all elementary and any middle or high schools built before 1988 will be tested by the end of the school year, according to the school system. Simultaneously, testing will begin for middle schools constructed during or after 1988 and all remaining schools will be tested during the 2019-2020 school session.

In the past two years, six schools, after undergoing a renovation or a new construction project, were tested for lead and none was detected.

Prior to the state law, the school system would sample water fountains for lead as schools and additions were built or if a school was renovated.

“Historically, all water fountains in county schools have been tested for lead,” said Chris Madden, the indoor environmental quality manager for the school system, during a presentation last month to the school board.

Lead exposure can cause physical and behavioral problems, including a lower IQ, hyperactivity and slow growth in a child, according to the EPA.

Before enrolling in child care, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten or first grade, students are required to be tested for lead in their blood, according to the school system’s website.

The county’s health department does not provide blood tests for lead poisoning in children but can provide information about lead poisoning prevention, according to Matt Wilson, a health department spokesman.

jnocera@baltsun.com

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