North Carolina is one of more than 20 states that got an ‘F’ when it comes to testing for lead in the school’s drinking water.
In fact, there is no law that says schools have to test at all.
The lead was eliminated from gas and paint in the 1970s but now; state leaders want to know how it keeps ending up in the drinking water at our schools.
A new bill would require school buildings built before 1961 be tested for lead by mid-2021 if it’s passed.
Mecklenburg and Guilford County schools volunteered to have their drinking water tested and the lead was found in taps at dozens of schools.
The American Association of Pediatrics says that’s alarming because there is no safe level of lead and children are more at risk than adults.
Drew Ball with Environment NC said, “I think it’s unsettling, it’s the states responsibility, education is important and I think protecting children from lead in schools should be on the list of things that the state needs to address… I’m hoping we can come together in a bipartisan way to get this done because protecting the kids isn’t a Democrat or a Republican issue, it’s just about protecting the kids.“
A study done in the triangle found that 1 in 7 child care centers had at least one faucet that had levels of lead.
WNCT reached out to Pitt County Schools to see if any testing has been done, we have not heard back.
