Missouri Get The Lead Out

In the 2022 legislative session the Missouri Legislation passed the Get the Lead out of School Drinking Water Act. This act established the requirement that Missouri Public Schools on or before January 1, 2024 have an inventory of water outlets used for drinking/cooking, provide access to information about the health effects of lead to the public, and create a testing plan. Prior to August 1, 2024 schools are required to complete testing and take steps to remediate any issues.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services provides information on lead in drinking water and effects on their website: https://health.mo.gov/living/environment/lead/publications.php

The Orrick School District is working with Get The Lead Out, a company specializing in lead testing and safe drinking water in schools. This fall an inventory and testing plan were developed by the district in collaboration with Get The Lead Out. If you recall, several weeks ago I emailed an image that the school began displaying at several sinks that were not considered water outlets for drinking (you can see that image attached). These signs were placed at hand-washing sinks throughout the building.

In initial testing the district had 4 hand-washing sinks test over the limit for Missouri set at 5 parts per billion (ppb). All 4 of these sinks tested under the federal limit of 15 ppb. I wanted to stress that there are only 4 sinks testing above 5 ppb, despite these signs being placed at numerous sinks throughout the building that are considered hand-wash sinks and not drinking water outlets. While the district would have loved to have zero outlets test positive, speaking with Get The Lead Out and other districts, the Orrick School District believes initial test results were positive (good) overall for several reasons:

1. Initial test results would indicate that our water source does not contain lead (as 59 of the 63 initial samples contained no lead, or trace amounts falling under Missouri's standard of 5 ppb).
2. Because of the number of sample draws taken throughout the building, we are confident that there are water outlets that did not test above Missouri's limit of 5 ppb on the same lines as our four hand-wash sinks that did (meaning any issue is unlikely to be from water lines/pipes within the school).
3. In speaking with other school districts and Get The Lead Out, and examining our test results, we are hopeful that our four sinks that did test positive can be addressed by targeted flushes at these water outlets, and possibly replacing the faucet aerators. Many districts that have seen only a few positive outlets (indicating water outlet specific issue as opposed to water supply or piping issue), have been able to address those outlets through a flush and replacing faucet aerators. It is also possible that we received false-positives at a water outlet, or multiple water outlets.
4. Nothing above the permitted limits was found at any water fountain, bottle filler or kitchen water outlet.

As noted in the initial testing results information attached below, the district is taking the following steps to address any possible issues:

1. Additional signs have been placed at the four sinks that did test above Missouri's limit of 5 ppb.
2. Daily flushes prior to first use will be performed in accordance with EPA guidelines.
3. Follow up flush samples are being coordinated with Get the Lead Out.

After the results from follow up testing are received the district will again communicate regarding results any additional steps necessary to address any water outlets testing above Missouri's limit of 5 ppb. Attached below you can find the information on our initial samples.

Email: sguilkey@orrick.k12.mo.us
Website: http://www.orrick.k12.mo.us/
Location: 100 Kirkham Street, Orrick, MO, USA