All of the water lines were replaced this summer at McClure Middle School as part of the Seattle School District's efforts to eliminate lead contamination in the schools' drinking fountains.
The issue arose four years ago when testing revealed that lead levels in drinking water at the schools were deemed unacceptable.
An annual report that was just released revealed that remedial work at McClure and other Seattle schools this year and last resulted in 93 percent of water sources in 31 schools passing all requirements outlined in the Drinking Water Policy. It was up from 60 percent in 2004, according to the press release.
The water policy was developed by the Seattle School Board, which set the maximum amount of lead in drinking water to 10 parts per billion. That's half the standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Estimates for the plumbing work at McClure were originally $1.18 million, said school district spokeswoman Patti Spencer. But the job ended up costing less than $700,000, she said. The work was paid for with a successful 2007 bond issue specifically targeting water lines, Spencer added.
Seattle Parks and Recreation in 2006 tested water for lead in the Queen Anne Community Center, which was built 14 years earlier than McClure next door, said parks spokeswoman Dewey Potter. It is "well within the range that the Environmental Protection Agency considers safe," she said.[[In-content Ad]]
