CTV News covers the lead tainted water in Prince George's County.
Friday, March 31, 2017
"These are our babies." Flint Grandmother on Water Contamination
Please watch this Flint grandmother speak about the poison water at a Council Meeting in 2014. The contamination in Flint was far more serious that what seems to be the case in PGCPS but we wanted to share her words because it applies to all children's environmental health issues.
Dear Dr. Maxwell, Please Provide Accurate and Full Information To Parents and Staff
Dear Dr. Maxwell,
A letter was sent to staff about the "Water Quality Program" on March 30, 2017 which states that you want staff to have “accurate information” about the lead contamination in classroom water. I am writing because I just reviewed this letter and I am deeply concerned that parents teachers and staff are not being fully informed about the lead tainted water in Prince George’s County Schools which has gone unattended half a decade.
1. Staff and parents need to know that the PGCPS current “EPA compliant” level of 20 ppb (parts of lead per billion) is not safe for children. This allows 20 times what Washington DC Public Schools allow. EPA compliance is irrelevant when it is a decades old standard- from 1991- over 25 years old!
Washington DC Public Schools uses an action level for lead in water at 1 ppb.
Why are Prince George’s County Children are allowed to drink water with 20x the lead that Washington DC children are allowed? 20X higher than the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation?
In July 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics' Council on Environmental Health issued the following recommendation: "State and local governments should take steps to ensure that water fountains in schools do not exceed water lead concentrations of 1 ppb."
The EPA explains that their action level is not based on health however, the PGCPS messaging implies that their outdated action levels are “safety” levels. This is a dangerous assertion and completely false.
According to the materials PGCPS has posted online PGCPS is using an outdated EPA action level for lead in the water at 20 ppb. I also see that for new construction you state are using an action level of 10 ppb. I am unclear why this double standard? Why are children in new construction would afforded lower lead in their water ?
Why are children in new buildings afforded less lead in their water than those in older buildings?
I would like to know what documentation you have done to ascertain that this amount of lead (10 -20ppb) is safe for children.
2. You sent a FAQs on the Water Quality Program with some missing information.
This FAQ Sheet states
Why is PGCPS conducting comprehensive testing of drinking water sources?
The sheet answers: Comprehensive testing of drinking water sources will allow for systematic identification of major issues, any subsequent updates to our remediation plan, and other steps to address water quality. Comprehensive testing was originally scheduled for summer 2017. However, due to public inquiries about PGCPS water quality, the timetable was moved up.
This is a misrepresentation of the full situation.
This is how I would answer the question:
Why is PGCPS conducting comprehensive testing of drinking water sources?
Comprehensive testing of drinking water was begun because over 5000 water sources were found to have high levels of lead that exceeded the EPA action level in 2009- 2016. As a result water taps were turned off in 88 schools. However then the County did not prioritize this issue and little action was taken until parents started advocating for clean water.
In addition the science has advanced and the PGCPS allowable lead level of 15 or 20 does not protect children because there is no safe level of lead for children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that the amount of lead and water be at 0 ppb. Therefore, PGCPS decided to take action on this issue, but still is in need of medical expertise to plan the next steps so that children are fully protected.
PGCPS may have water sources that are turned on yet have high lead levels because it has been so long since testing was done.
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3. Why is the County not posting the recent Lead in Water Contamination Test Reports?
On the Prince George’s County Public School Water quality page you only post the lead in water test reports from 2004. These are of course, over a decade old. Why have you not posted the test results from 2009 through 2016 which you sent me last year?
4. Why are parents not being informed to bring their health concerns to their pediatrician?
In Washington DC parents are being informed to talk to their pediatrician and possibly get lead test for their child. PGCPS is making it seem like there is not a problem when the lead tests show in fact that there is a current problem. From information you sent me, it seems the problem is that lead levels under 20ppb were allowed to remain with water taps ON- exposing children to lead contaminated water and there was little follow up in over 5 years.
Please clarify this to parents who should be informed if their child was exposed to lead and at what levels .
In Baltimore 80,000 students remain on bottled water costing close to a half-million dollars a year, so addressing this issue will save money in the long run. I look forward to hearing from you on this very important information. There is a Prince George's County parent blog where you can learn more about lead and about parents concerns at http://leadinpgcpswater.blogspot.com.
Thank you so much,
Theodora Scarato
Prevention of Childhood Lead Toxicity, American Academy of Pediatrics-Council on Environmental Health, Bruce Perrin Lanphear, MD, MPH, FAAP, Pediatrics, July 2016, Volume 138/Issue 1
Washington DC Public Schools Ensures Lead Levels Are 20 Times Less Than PGCPS
Washington, DC public schools recently lowered their own “action level” for lead in water to 1 ppm (parts per billion). Yet Prince George's County uses a lead level of 20?
Clearly PGCPS Should be using an action level of 1ppb , just as Washington DC Schools are doing.
Why are Washington DC Schools using 1 ppb and Prince George's County using 20 ppb?
Read about it here http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/article/20782859/dc-tested-public-schools-water-for-lead-more-than-60-had-high-levels
Clearly PGCPS Should be using an action level of 1ppb , just as Washington DC Schools are doing.
Why are Washington DC Schools using 1 ppb and Prince George's County using 20 ppb?
Read about it here http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/article/20782859/dc-tested-public-schools-water-for-lead-more-than-60-had-high-levels
New York City Map of Schools With Lead Tainted Water
Public school parents in New York City have received letters that their children’s schools tested positive for lead.
This is the second round of water testing the city has done this year.
Below is a map by WNYC from their feature article found herehttp://www.wnyc.org/story/wnyc-map-lead-contamination-water-fountains-nyc-public-schools/
Reports show nine times as many water sources tested above the EPA’s “action level” of 15 parts per billion (ppb) compared to tests conducted just a year ago.
Darker points correspond to a higher level of lead found at a single water fountain in the building. Larger points correspond to more water fountains found with lead.
Read it All Here at WNYC http://www.wnyc.org/story/wnyc-map-lead-contamination-water-fountains-nyc-public-schools/
See Another Story In the WNYC Report from
http://www.wnyc.org/story/most-new-york-city-schools-have-not-tested-their-water-decade
“The conventional wisdom used to be that the plumbing lead release would only get better with time," Edwards said. “And so, back in the day, when schools sampled once and they went in and fixed all the problematic fixtures, they thought was this problem was done forever. We now know that this conventional wisdom is completely wrong."
See Another Story In the WNYC Report from
http://www.wnyc.org/story/most-new-york-city-schools-have-not-tested-their-water-decade
“The conventional wisdom used to be that the plumbing lead release would only get better with time," Edwards said. “And so, back in the day, when schools sampled once and they went in and fixed all the problematic fixtures, they thought was this problem was done forever. We now know that this conventional wisdom is completely wrong."
Lead in Classroom Water Fountains Is A National Problem
Please see examples on how other communities such as Chicago are dealing with their leaded water crisis.
Two elementary schools near Mather's campus had water fixtures tested for the presence of lead in recent weeks.
CPS said a small group of samples collected from Jamieson Elementary School at the end of April showed no detectable levels of lead. A sample collected from a sink at Budlong Elementary School near the end of May showed a lead level of slightly more than 17 parts per billion. Tests on another fixture showed lead levels between 4 and 8 parts per billion.
"The fact they plan to continue with this on a steady basis going forward is good," said Sonia Alvarez, a Little Village resident and parent of CPS charter school students who attended Monday's meeting.
"Lead in water, especially for the younger kids, messes with your development," she said. "I have a vested interest, my son has autism. So if there's a way to try and protect from developmental issues happening to others, let's try to attack it," she said.
Read it in full here. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-chicago-school-lead-water-meetings-met-20160620-story.html
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Dr. Maxwell's Letter About Lead in the Water To Staff
Ten Questions To Dr. Maxwell About Lead Contamination In Our Water
Dear Dr. Maxwell,
I read with interest the press release that the county is going to launch the final phase of the water quality program and I would like to tell you how thankful I am that the district is finally dealing with this very important problem.
However there is no safe level of lead for children and I am very concerned that the county is still allowing lead levels up to 20 ppb in classroom water sources as stated in the press materials sent out yesterday.
I was reading your press release entitled, “PGCPS TO LAUNCH FINAL PHASE OF WATER QUALITY PROGRAM” and had some very specific questions for you in regards to some of the statements that have been made and I appreciate in advance your clarification and answers to each of these questions:
- The press release states that “We are confident that our buildings have safe drinking water and we want the public to have no doubt.” Could you please clarify how you are confident that the buildings have safe drinking water because when I took a look at the testing over the last six years that have been done in the schools I saw that there were several schools that have lead levels that range anywhere from 5 to 20 PPB. I understand from the documents that you sent me that the water fountains that were turned off are those that are over 20 ppm. So are there fountains on which are allowing lead levels that are just under the EPA threshold but that clearly a contaminated with lead? As you are aware because it has been six years since some of these tests have been done it is very possible that water sources that have a level of 13 could now be at 22. We simply don't know. Please clarify how you know that the drinking water is safe.
- The press release states that, “PGCPS will begin installing filtered water fountains this summer at all schools.” I would like to ask what you are doing now to ensure the children have access to healthy water. I have written several times and you have stated that they are given bottled water to the children but when I and parents ask specifically -details about this- they are not given answers. For example, is water available in the classroom? Does a child need to go all the way down to the front office to get the water? Can you please describe for each school exactly how the children are provided available water and how many water bottles they are allowed to have during the day? Please also share how teachers and staff are being provided clean water.
- Your press release states that, “There are no federal or state mandates for annual testing.” Yes that is true and it is shameful that this country does not have a system in place so that parents can be assured that the water is safe. I would like to point out that there is a Maryland Bill calling for regular water testing in the state. I would like to ask that you support this bill and contribute to the discussion and share with our state legislators the challenges that the county is facing right now and the need for state and federal support. Please tell me how you are supporting this Bill. Please share how you can support additional legislation in regards to to the issue of lead poisoning in schools.
- The water quality page states that “5,238 (approximately 30%) found to be at or above the 20 ppb EPA action level.” There seems to be some confusion which I would like to get clarity on. In one letter you wrote me stating that you were using the EPA action level of 15 ppb. In yet another letter you wrote me that you were using the action letter of 20 ppb. I have that detailed in full here. So I guess my question is which lead contaminant action level have you been using for the last half decade? 15 or 20 ppb? Are water taps which have under 20 ppb still allowed to be on in the Prince George’s County school system? If so why?
- The water quality page states that “During the construction of new schools, the water will be tested at the property line and from all drinking water sources. Any water that tests above 10 parts per billion (ppb) will be remediated.” Again, I would like to point out that the EPA action level is 15 ppb. However this is not a safe amount of lead in the water and it is my understanding that anything over one part per billion is unsafe for children because there is no safe level of lead for children. Please read the American Academy of Pediatrics Report which states how 0 ppb is the health standard. Can you please explain why you are not using zero as the acceptable level of lead to be allowed in our children's classrooms?
- The water quality page shares the 2004 testing that was done but no where do I see the 2008 through 2016 testing that was done. Here it is: 2011 -2012 PGCPS Lead Level testing, PGCPS Lead Testing Done in 2014, PGCPS Lead Testing of Ardmore in 2015,, PGCPS Lead Testing Done in 2010, PGCPS Lead Testing Done in 2008 Could you please ensure these test results are posted on that webpage - just as you posted the 2004 lead test results- so parents and teachers have access to it. Many parents are writing me asking me for the lead test in their school and the county has a responsibility to post ALL the testing that has been done.
- Your press release states that, “Results from the comprehensive testing will be shared when completed.” Thank you. This is very important. I am writing asking that you send to each parent the testing that has been done in the past at their child's school and clarify specifically what was done in each school so that there is full transparency in this process. I am just a mom and should not be responsible for sending parents across the county the school water testing results. This is PGCPS responsibility. Please post it publicly so each parent can have easy acess to it and not have to sort through thousands of pages. Parents deserve transparency and information pertaining to their child’s health. These parents should be provided information immediately and not have it treated as a public information request and have it take a month as has happened to me.
- Your press release states that “While we know our drinking water is safe, we also know that some older buildings may have lead sources within their private plumbing systems. Our tests will help PGCPS identify issues within schools’ plumbing systems.” This sentence is a little bit confusing because if you think the drinking water is safe then why are you saying that some older buildings may have a lead sources? Please be very clear with the parents teachers and staff that the water is not safe because it has not been tested in over half a decade.
- There are some inaccuracies in the PGCPS ARDMORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Frequently Asked Questions that need to be fixed. You have statement that reads, “Almost all lead poisoning cases stem from exposure to lead based paint and lead in soil ingestion and not from drinking water with a lead content. Based on this information the need for lead testing is not recommended.”
This is absolutely false. Children can be lead poisoned by water contaminated with lead and no amount of lead is safe for children so I am quite shocked to read such a statement. I would like you to please have an expert from the Department of Health review your FAQ sheet and ensure accuracy. This document also states that “based on this information the need for lead testing is not recommended” and that again is false. Clearly there is a water contamination problem in Ardmore or else you would not be keeping all the faucets off? Please revise your FAQS for parents so that they reflect accurately the reality that no amount of lead is safe for children. Yes children can be lead poisoned by the water . Please clarify to me what you are going to be doing to remedy such statements which are made on the frequently asked questions sheet that you have posted.
10. Why are you not telling the parents that they can go to their pediatrician to get a lead test if the water in their school has been found to have a high lead level? This seems important. In Washington DC this is what the school system did. The school district materials are making it seem like the water is safe when the water is clearly not safe. Please explain why you are not fully informing parents of their school water test results and that they can and should consult their pediatrician with such results. The pediatricians will need to have the information on the lead tests results to know the best way to address any parent concerns.
Please read the following report which states that no amount of lead is safe.
I look forward to the answers to these questions.
Thank you very much,
Theodora Scafato
Letter sent on March 30, 2017
The American Academy of Pediatrics Recommends 0 Lead in Our Water
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Report on prevention of Lead Toxicity states "state and local governments should take steps to ensure water fountains in schools do not exceed water lead concentrations of 1ppb."
Please download the AAP report by clicking here and see screensaver of their recommendation.
PGCPS seems to be allowing lead in our water up to 19 ppm (or 10ppb although I am still unclear what limit they are using because they have told me contradictory numbers). That is not safe. All water sources should be at 0 or at least below 1.
Please download the AAP report by clicking here.
Thank you for sending this information to us Families Against Chemical Toxins (FACT)
Glenridge Elementary Had High Lead Levels and Water Shut Off in October 2016
Glenridge Elementry School had all their water tested for lead and it was TURNED OFF in 2016.
Why did Glenridge Elementary School suddenly get all their water tested? and other schools where parents were asking did not?
Here is the letter Glenridge Elementry parents were sent in October.
Why did Glenridge Elementary School suddenly get all their water tested? and other schools where parents were asking did not?
Here is the letter Glenridge Elementry parents were sent in October.
Glenridge Elementary School letter by Erin Thacker on Scribd
In order to understand why Glenridge had its water turned off we requested the emails in regards to this school. In response, PGCPS just sent this letter stating there were 450 emails and they were "reviewing them" and needing a total of 6 weeks to do so?
Flint Mothers Were Calling For Safe Water Years Before Headlines Made it Public
Parents Were Advocating for Safe Water in Flint Michigan in 2014 !
Listen to her speak about the water in her babies bottle.
Listen to her speak about the water in her babies bottle.
Sadly, this is still not fixed. We do not want PGCPS to go down the same path. We must lift this up in our county and nationwide!
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Prince George's County Public Schools Press Release on Lead Remediation Program
- Why doesn't this press release state that 88 schools have water fountains turned off because of high lead levels?
- Why doesn't this press release state that there is brown water coming out of the taps in some of our schools?
- Why doesn't this press release state that parents are still not being given answers to questions such as "How is my child being provided water in our school with all the water fountains now turned off?"
- Why doesn't this press release date that high lead levels were found in 88 schools half a decade ago when testing was last done and parents were never informed!
School system to conduct system-wide sampling and testing in collaborationwith WSSC and independent lab; filtered water fountains to be installed this summer
UPPER MARLBORO, MD – Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) will launch the final phase of its water quality program in April.
Starting mid-month, PGCPS will conduct comprehensive sampling and testing of drinking water sources at all schools and centers for water quality, including lead, working with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) and an independent laboratory. The testing timetable – originally scheduled to begin this summer – was moved up in response to public inquiries about PGCPS water quality.
“Over the past 13 years, we have worked diligently to address water quality throughout the system. We are confident that our buildings have safe drinking water and we want the public to have no doubt,” said Dr. W. Wesley Watts Jr., Chief Operating Officer. “WSSC has offered to assist with this effort. We appreciate the community advocacy on this issue and the support from WSSC and our government partners to complete this work.”
An estimated 3,000 sources in all schools and centers – more than 200 sites – will be tested.
WSSC will conduct tests to detect lead level in water samples collected by PGCPS at targeted school sites; PGCPS will handle the remaining schools in collaboration with the independent lab. In addition, PGCPS will begin installing filtered water fountains this summer at all schools.
Water supplied by WSSC meets or exceeds all federal and state water quality regulations and falls well below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Action Level for lead. The water utility completed an extensive lead pipe replacement project approximately 12 years ago.
“WSSC is pleased to partner with PGCPS and lend our nearly century of water-quality expertise to help ensure the safety of drinking water within schools,” said Carla A. Reid, WSSC General Manager and CEO. “While we know our drinking water is safe, we also know that some older buildings may have lead sources within their private plumbing systems. Our tests will help PGCPS identify issues within schools’ plumbing systems.”
PGCPS launched the 2004 Lead in Water Program as a response to public concerns regarding lead in Washington, DC pipes. Since then, PGCPS has implemented several phases of remediation to address drinking water sources with elevated lead levels, as mandated by the EPA. These actions have included flushing the system, replacing pipes and fixtures, and completely shutting off fixtures.
The last system-wide testing for lead was completed in 2009. There are no federal or state mandates for annual testing. Additional tests have been conducted since then as needed; the actions taken complied with EPA guidelines. Future plans include retesting schools every three years.
Results from the comprehensive testing will be shared when completed. Remediation efforts will begin once results are known. The school system will also address other water quality issues that arise during the testing.
See the press release online at http://www.pgcps.org/Communications/Press-Releases/2016---2017/March/PGCPS-to-Launch-Final-Phase-of-Water-Quality-Program/