Superintendent Salvatore Illuzzi released a letter announced lead was found in Cinnaminson Township Public Schools water
Eleanor Rush Intermediate School and Cinnaminson Middle School tested positive for lead in the water supplies, according to a letter released by Superintendent Salvatore Illuzzi.
“Cinnaminson Township Public Schools is committed to protecting students’ and staff’s health,” Illuzzi’s letter reads. “To protect our community and be in compliance with the Department of Education regulations, the school district tested our schools’ drinking water for lead.”
All drinking water and food preparation outlets in the district were tested. Of a total of 133 samples taken, 10 tested above the lead action level.
All water samples taken at Memorial School, New Albany Elementary School and Cinnaminson High School tested below the lead action level established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for lead in drinking water — 15 parts per billion.
Eight of the district’s 10 above-level samples were found at Eleanor Rush Intermediate School, where a total of 23 samples were taken. One drinking fountain sample showed a level of 29.4 parts per billion — almost double that of the action level.
At Cinnaminson Middle School, two of 35 samples tested above the action level — one sink and one drinking fountain. The nurse’s office sink tested at 43 parts per billion, whereas the water fountain tested at 15.4 parts per billion — just slightly above the action level.
Illuzzi’s letter explains the district completed a plumbing profile for each of the schools in compliance with technical guidance developed by the state Department of Environmental Protection. When the district discovered numerous sample locations tested above the action level, immediate remedial measures were implemented. Bottled water was made available “where appropriate,” and signs reading “do not drink, safe for handwashing only” were posted at several locations. Unsafe drinking fountains were taken out of service.
According to district business administrator Thomas Egan, all water outlets that tested above 15 parts per billion had a secondary test drawn, but the results are not yet available.
“Once we have those results, we will be better able to address the long-term remedial measure,” Egan said. “Upon receiving the secondary results, we are expecting to flush those lines and replace the fixtures.”
The school will continue to test the water periodically.
“Thank you for your patience as we remedy these areas above acceptable lead levels and re-test for compliance,” Illuzzi’s letter reads.
In July, the state Board of Education passed regulations requiring all districts in New Jersey to test water sources for lead at some point in the 2016–2017 school year.
Although lead in drinking water is not often the sole cause of lead poisoning, drinking water can make up to 20 percent or more of a person’s total exposure to lead, according to the EPA.
A copy of the test results is available in the Cinnaminson Township Public Schools central office and at www.cinnaminson.com. Questions can be directed to maintenance supervisor Joe Earlen at (856) 829–3861 ext. 2892.
For more information on lead exposure, visit www.epa.gov/lead.
