Extreme level of lead at SF school gym fountain, among 30 taps failing test

At least 30 water taps at three San Francisco public school campuses tested for high levels of lead, and water from one fountain in a high school gym had a lead level nearly 60 times the maximum under federal health guidelines, data released by the district show.

The numbers offer a clearer and more serious picture of the lead levels coming from water spigots in some San Francisco schools than an initial description by district officials last week. They indicated that 1 tap out of 5 tested at each of three school sites exceeded federal guidelines, prompting the district to shut down the taps, notify parents and initiate more testing.

The highest level identified came from a gym fountain at San Francisco International High School, where the lead level was measured at 860 parts per billion, compared with the recommended maximum of 15 parts per billion.

Two fountains outside the gym tested at 644 and 493 parts per billion, and the district said those were frequently used by elementary charter school students attending New School, which shares the former Enola Maxwell campus in Potrero Hill with the high school.

Water taps at 72 district sites, out of 124 total, have been tested, with only the four schools on three campuses having issues, officials said.

However, subsequent testing at the three sites, including Malcolm X Elementary School, , found a more widespread problem. Water samples showed high levels of lead at several locations, including a drinking fountain on the first floor of Malcolm X with a lead level of 333 parts per billion. The district is now doing a second round of testing on all taps with levels exceeding federal guidelines to confirm the results. Results are pending for West Portal Elementary School.

Ryan Chapman, head of school at the New School in S.F., fills up at a water dispenser as a fountain remains covered (left). Ryan Chapman, head of school at the New School in S.F., fills up at a water dispenser as a fountain remains covered (left). Photo: Lea Suzuki, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Lea Suzuki, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 7 Caption Close Extreme level of lead at SF school gym fountain, among 30 taps failing test 1 / 7 Back to Gallery

Lead is a toxic metal, and exposure even in low levels can harm children’s health, possibly damaging the brain and nervous system, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While the water flowing into the schools is safe, lead can leach into it from pipes, fixtures or solder in the plumbing.

A growing list of schools across the state are posting high levels of lead flowing out of faucets after the water crisis in Flint, Mich. — in which corrosion of pipes led to leaching of lead into the city water supply — led California officials to push for testing, especially in schools.

Typically, levels as high as those seen on the problematic San Francisco campuses would come from taps that are used rarely, if at all, allowing a significant amount of lead to leach into the water, said June Weintraub, manager of water programs at the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

“But that doesn’t appear to be the case” in the recent tests, she said.

In San Francisco, custodians are supposed to flush all water fountains and taps for 30 seconds every morning, district officials said, but given the high lead content, it’s unclear whether that policy has been consistently followed.

The city’s water provider, the Public Utilities Commission, identified the taps with high levels of lead during a statewide voluntary testing program launched in January, which included taking five water samples from each school.

The three schools each had one tap measuring above the federal threshold. As a result, the district said, it immediately shut off those taps while testing all fountains and faucets at each school, before posting the results online late Friday.

“We were very responsible in volunteer testing,” said school board President Shamann Walton. “Now we’re going to test more to make sure we completely find out where the issues are and eliminate them.”

San Francisco is far from the only district grappling with the issue. Earlier this year, San Diego Unified was among the first to test for lead under the voluntary program. Initially, two of the district’s 200 school sites showed levels exceeding 15 parts per million, said Samer Naji, a district spokesman.

The levels were high enough that district officials decided to test all taps used for drinking and food preparation and ensure they meet a lower threshold of below 5 parts per billion.

“The message we kept hearing is there is no safe level of lead,” he said.

In San Francisco, district officials have not decided whether they will assess additional taps at the schools already tested. Students at the three campuses that failed tests are drinking bottled water until the district can mitigate the problem.

“We already know that we do have problems,” said Yonko Radonov, San Francisco Unified’s interim facilities chief. “This week we’re meeting with consultants to look at floor plans and plumbing to figure out a plan of action.”

How long the taps have exceeded lead levels, and how much water students consumed, is unknown. Other schools have occupied the Enola Maxwell campus over the past several years, including Webster Elementary. While students don’t drink a lot of water from the fountains, they had been using them.

“It’s concerning,” said Emily Kilduff, the co-director at New School, adding she is still waiting for the results from fountains inside the elementary school part of the building. “Especially with the heat we’ve had.”

Kilduff, who is pregnant, opted Friday to get her blood lead level tested and is waiting for results. One student at her school was also tested after officials informed parents that the district was taking water samples for lead content. His results were normal, Kilduff said.

“We will probably recommend, if any parent is concerned or worried, to go get tested,” Kilduff said.

New School parent Sara Maamouri, who has a daughter in kindergarten, said she’s been reassured by frequent communication from the school about the water testing and by the fact that her daughter doesn’t typically drink from the fountains.

“She hasn’t even used the outdoor fountains,” she said, adding that it was important for parents to be aware of the prevalence of lead. “Unfortunately, I think it’s the world we live in.”

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @jilltucker

Resources

Find San Francisco water test results at http://bit.ly/2gOY784.

Parents concerned about a child’s lead exposure should discuss the issue with their family physician. In some cases, testing for lead may be recommended.

Those in San Francisco without insurance or a medical care provider can call the Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Section of the city Department of Public Health at (800) 300-9950. Staff has the information distributed to the schools. Calls are answered Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 pm. Messages left after hours will be returned the next business day. English, Spanish and Cantonese are available.

San Francisco residents concerned about the water at their homes may request a sampling kit and city analysis for a fee of $25 by calling 311. Participants in the WIC nutrition program can request a free test. More information: http://bit.ly/2yYbw8x.

To reduce potential lead exposure from drinking water, flush the tap until it feels colder, for 30 seconds to 2 minutes, before using water for drinking or cooking. Certified filters can also reduce exposure.