Lead testing
Review · Mitigate · Test · Remediate
Protecting students and staff is a priority in our district, and that includes providing safe drinking water in all of our schools and buildings. Across the district, some drinking fountains and sink faucets have been shut off or have signs on them to restrict use. We have taken this action as a precaution until our fixtures can be retested for lead as required by state law.
Since we last tested, the state has lowered the threshold for lead in school drinking water from 20 parts per billion (ppb) to 5 ppb. Fixtures in Battle Ground schools are below 20 ppb. Many also were below 5 ppb in prior testing. However, our prior results showed that some fixtures tested higher than 5 ppb. Until retesting occurs and we can confirm the current level, we have taken steps to limit access to those fixtures that we believe could potentially still be above 5 ppb. Students and staff will have access to drinkable water in the meantime.
Safety measures
Until retesting occurs, students and staff will be able to get drinkable water from water dispensers. We encourage parents and guardians to send students to school with a water bottle if possible. However, students will still be able to obtain water even if they do not have a water bottle.
School | Number of fixtures that may be | Number of drinking fountains shut off pending test results | Number of faucets labeled as "Hand wash only" pending test results |
|---|---|---|---|
Amboy M.S. | 11 | 6 | 5 |
Battle Ground H.S. | 36 | 5 | 31 |
Captain M.S. | 59 | 13 | 46 |
CASEE campus | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Chief Umtuch M.S. | 22 | 8 | 14 |
Daybreak campus | 18 | 7 | 11 |
Glenwood Primary | 32 | 16 | 16 |
Laurin M.S. | 27 | 14 | 13 |
Lewisville campus | 36 | 9 | 27 |
Maple Grove Primary | 44 | 16 | 28 |
Prairie H.S. | 39 | 8 | 31 |
Pleasant Valley campus | 57 | 33 | 24 |
River HomeLink | 50 | 22 | 28 |
Tukes Valley campus | 20 | 4 | 16 |
Yacolt Primary | 29 | 6 | 23 |
CAM Academy and Battle Ground Virtual Academy were built after 2016. State law requires that all drinking water outlets in public schools be tested at least once every five years if the school was built or all plumbing was replaced prior to 2016.
2016-17
BGPS conducts lead testing and completes remediation based on the standard at the time (20 parts per billion or less). Approximately 440 fixtures were replaced in 2027.
2021
State lowers maximum lead level to 5 parts per billion for drinking water. According to guidance from the Department of Health, sinks between 5 and 15 ppb may be used for handwashing and washing dishes only.
2026
School districts must now retest at least once every 5 years based on the new standard.
As a precaution, BGPS shuts off or places signs on some drinking fountains and sink faucets until they can be retested.
2027
Department of Health expected to begin testing the fixtures that are of concern.
BGPS works on developing a remediation plan based on the results.