News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Drinking water sources at three Putnam County schools continue to show elevated levels of lead.
Facilities Maintenance Supervisor John Magura said the results stem from secondary testing that occurred at six schools last month.
“Lab results for the retest indicate that all locations are within EPA acceptable lead levels in drinking water except for three sinks at Cornerstone Elementary School and one sink at White Plains Academy,” Magura said. “These fixtures will remain out of service until they can be repaired or replaced. None of these fixtures will be placed back into service until additional testing indicates that it’s safe to do so.”
In addition, Magura said the testing found four science lab sinks with elevated lead levels at Cookeville High School.
“Basically, any fixture that is online is safe to use,” Magura said. “We will retest those fixtures at Cookeville High School within the next 90-days.
A Knoxville-based company initially recorded elevated levels of lead at Avery Trace Middle School, Baxter Primary School, Cane Creek Elementary, Cookeville High School, Cornerstone Elementary, and White Plains Academy. The first round of testing took place over winter break.
Magura said the difference between testing results is due to EPA guidelines.
“Their guidelines for testing indicate that to get the most accurate test you shouldn’t allow the water to sit in a line longer than 18-hours,” Magura said. “When we did the initial test in December that was over the break period. When we did the second test the water hadn’t set in the lines for multiple days. That’s why we believe the test levels went down.”
State law requires all Tennessee School Districts to test water sources at school facilities constructed prior to January 1, 1998. The school system spent $9,000 to conduct the testing.
