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HAMILTON -- Two Hamilton elementary schools have higher than acceptable levels for lead in their drinking water, the district says.

The high levels were detected at Morgan Elementary on Stamford Road in Mercerville, and Greenwood Avenue on Greenwood Avenue.

Letters sent to parents and guardians at the schools - and posted on the district's website Friday - say the district started testing two water sources at each school just before spring break.

The water sources included water fountains, classrooms with drinking spigots in sinks, faculty rooms and the nurse's office.

At Morgan Elementary, "Some of those samples tested above the acceptable levels for lead," the letter said.

As a precaution, all drinking fountains and faucets that are used for drinking have been shut off at Morgan pending results of the second samples and a written report, the letter says. The results were received Thursday, after school hours.

The school district arranged for bottled water for Morgan students and staff today Friday and were arranging water coolers to be delivered at the school.

All cooking for food service will be done off site with only heating of food on site, the Morgan letter says.

The first samples indicated the kitchen faucets at Morgan are within acceptable lead levels, but the food will continue to be cooked off site until the final report of the testing is received, the later says.

At Greenwood, results indicated one drinking fountain tested above the acceptable levels for lead, the letter says.

The district shut off the water to that one drinking fountain pending the results of the second sample and final written report, the Greenwood letter says.

The letters were signed by the principals at each school, Regina E. McIntyre at Morgan, and Katherine Taylor at Greenwood.

The latest round of testing and inspections at schools in New Jersey comes as Newark is dealing with elevated levels of lead, forcing them to shut off water fountains at 30 school buildings and test as many as 17,000 kids for contamination.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.