



TACOMA -- Students are being provided bottled water at two Tacoma elementary schools after officials discovered unreviewed tests from last year showed higher than acceptable levels of lead.



Tacoma Public Schools discovered late Friday that test results from May 2015 showed higher than normal levels of lead in the water at Mann and Reed Elementary Schools. The levels were higher than 15 ppb which is the action alert level as mandated by the EPA, officials said.



Dave Wilkins, a spokesman for the district, said t wasn't immediately known why earlier action was not taken on the test results, which found "higher than accepted" levels of lead.



Drinking fountains and faucets have been restricted at the schools and bottled water is being provided to students, staff and visitors.



Officials pulled new samples over the weekend but those test results are not yet available.



Tacoma Public Schools notified parents Monday morning.









This is a developing story and will be updated. Follow Q13 News reporter Steve Kiggins for updates.









Here is the message from Tacoma Public Schools:

