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Drinking Water Sampling in Delaware Schools for Lead


Program Overview

The Delaware Department of Education and the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) began a sampling initiative in Delaware schools in October 2020 to identify the levels of lead within the drinking water system. As of early 2022, every school in Delaware has been sampled and the initial results have been analyzed by the Division of Public Health Laboratory (DPHL). Initial sample results indicate lead may only be an issue at a limited number of fixtures in a small number of schools. Schools with results in exceedance of 0.015 mg/L are being resampled to better gauge risk, identify the source of lead, and guide next steps. DPH is working directly with schools and districts to provide short and long-term recommendations based on initial sampling and resampling results.

 

 

Lead Risk

Lead is toxic to humans. Young children are particularly vulnerable to lead because the physical and behavioral effects of lead occur at lower exposure levels in children than in adults. A dose of lead that would have little effect on an adult can have a significant effect on a child. In children, low levels of exposure have been linked to damage to the central and peripheral nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing, and impaired formation and function of blood cells. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that drinking water can make up 20% or more of a person’s total exposure to lead.

  

 



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Results
and
Information


Sample Results
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Parent Info Sheet
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School Info Sheet
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EPA Lead in Drinking Water
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CDC Lead in Drinking Water
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EPA's 3Ts




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