Almost 90 percent of the 249 school water systems recently tested for lead showed some level of lead in the drinking water. Six schools in the Granite School District had water containing “levels of lead that exceed the Environmental Protection Agency’s ‘action level’ of 15 micrograms per liter.” Three more schools also had lead levels above federal guidelines. That’s a lot of lead.
Only 10 percent of schools tested have drinking water that is entirely lead-free. Only 25 percent of Utah’s schools have been tested so far.
Lead poisoning can cause developmental delays in young children, although exposure needs to be consistent and over a long period of time.