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As part of our efforts to provide a safe and secure environment for students and staff, CCPS is working in partnership with Chesterfield County Government to test drinking water throughout the school division.
Lead testing for drinking water in schools
In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly enacted new legislation regarding testing for drinking water in schools. The legislation requires school boards to develop and implement a program to test for lead in drinking water:
§ 22.1-135.1. Potable water; lead testing
Each local school board shall develop and implement a plan to test and, if necessary, remediate potable water from sources identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as high priority for testing, including bubbler-style and cooler-style drinking fountains, cafeteria or kitchen taps, classroom combination sinks and drinking fountains, and sinks known to be or visibly used for consumption. Such plan shall be consistent with guidance published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the Department of Health. The local school board shall give priority in the testing plan to schools whose school building was constructed, in whole or in part, before 1986. Each local school board shall submit such testing plan and report the results of any such test to the Department of Health. Each local school board shall take all steps necessary to notify parents if testing results indicate lead contamination that exceeds 10 parts per billion.
The Chesterfield County Risk Management’s Environmental Health Safety Office, in partnership with the Chesterfield County Public Schools Facilities Department, has developed a plan that provides guidance to meet these requirements. The plan is based on recommendations provided through the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s 3T’s for reducing lead in drinking water.
A triennial testing program has been developed for all school buildings, with prioritization of facilities built before 1986. Each school will be tested every 3 years.
How testing works
- All drinking water sources are identified and labeled. Sources include water fountains, bubblers, bottle fillers, ice machines and sinks used in kitchens.
- A contractor completes water sampling and submits the samples to a regulated testing lab approved by the Virginia Department of Health.
- Samples are collected after water has not been used for at least eight hours (but not more than 18 hours).
- Sample collection begins at approximately 6 a.m. before school staff arrives. Sampling is conducted Tuesday through Friday while school is in session.
- The contractor collects an initial draw sample as well as a 30-second flush sample from each priority outlet. The initial draw samples the water that comes out of the faucet immediately after turning it on. A 30-second flush sample is a water sample taken after the faucet has run for 30 seconds at full force.
- All initial draw samples are tested, and if results show lead levels are 10 parts per billion (ppb) or higher, or if a copper content above the EPA Action Level of 1,300 ppb (1.3ppm) is detected, a test of the flush sample is required.
- If results from the flush sample are not below the actionable level of 10 ppb lead and 1300 ppb copper, the water source will be remediated. That could include cleaning the aerator, a 30-minute flush or changing the water fixture.
Testing schedule
The planned testing schedule is below. If test results require that action is taken to remediate the water source, the school will communicate this information to families and staff.
School year 2021-22: completed (oldest schools built before 1987)
- Davis Elementary
- Bellwood Elementary
- Bensley Elementary
- Bon Air Elementary
- Carver College and Career Academy
- Chester Early Childhood Learning Academy
- Chalkley Elementary
- Curtis Elementary
- Falling Creek Elementary
- Falling Creek Middle
- Grange Hall Elementary
- Hening Elementary
- Matoaca Middle – East Campus
- Meadowbrook High
- Midlothian Middle
- Providence Middle
- Robious Elementary
- Thomas Dale High – Main Campus
- Thomas Dale High – West (9th Grade)
- Watkins Elementary
School year 2022-23 (remaining schools built before 1987)
- Clover Hill Elementary
- Crenshaw Elementary
- CTC @ Courthouse
- CTC @ Hull
- Evergreen Elementary
- Gates Elementary
- Gordon Elementary
- Greenfield Elementary
- Hopkins Elementary
- Jacobs Road Elementary
- Bird High
- Midlothian High
- Monacan High
- Providence Elementary
- Robious Middle
- Salem Church Elementary
- Salem Church Middle
- Swift Creek Elementary
- Swift Creek Middle
- Wells Elementary
School year 2023-24 (schools built after 1987)
- Alberta Smith Elementary
- Bailey Bridge Middle
- Beulah Elementary
- Bettie Weaver Elementary
- Carver Middle
- Clover Hill High
- Cosby High
- Crestwood Elementary
- Ecoff Elementary
- E Davis Middle
- E Scott Elementary
- Enon Elementary
- Ettrick Elementary
- Harrowgate Elementary
- James River HS
- Manchester Middle
- Manchester High
- Marguerite Christian Elementary
- Matoaca Elementary
- Matoaca High
- Moseley Elementary
- Old Hundred Elementary
- Reams Road Elementary
- Spring Run Elementary
- Tomahawk Creek Middle
- Winterpock Elementary
- Woolridge Elementary
