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CMS Starts Second Round Of Water Tests

drinking fountain
Pixabay.com

Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools is starting its second round of water testing Monday. CMS said the second round of testing will include 17 high schools, 15 middle schools and three administrative sites, all built before 1989. The district will send parents notifications before testing happens at their child's school and when results will be available.

Earlier, CMS officials voluntarily tested 58 schools last fall, and lead was found in water at 27 schools. Some, such as the University Park Creative Arts School, had as many as five fixtures with high levels of lead. Those results were available in March but were not released to the public until reports about the testing appeared in the media this summer.

Superintendent Clayton Wilcox said all fixtures with high lead levels were replaced or shut off. He said the lead levels were not found to be harmful. But officials with the Centers for Disease Control say there is no safe blood level of lead, and that even low levels of lead in the blood can affect IQ, attention span and academic achievement. Exposure is especially dangerous for young children who are still developing.

The district said in an effort to better communicate about the testing they will send follow up letters to parents that will detail results and analysis and actions taken in plain language. CMS also has a webpagewith a testing schedule for each school and other information about its water testing.

The second round of testing is expected to be completed by November 9.