Macks Creek School has been participating in Missouri’s “Get the Lead Out” (GTL) initiative. Our district is taking steps to both test and remediate any issues discovered through this process. Macks Creek School has contracted with Environmental Works, Inc. (EWI) to conduct testing and provide insight and expertise to ensure drinking water is safe for our students and employees. As EWI shared in their report to the district on April 11, 2024:
RSMo 160.077 requires schools to conduct an inventory, prepare a sampling and testing plan, perform sampling, and complete a remediation plan (final report) of all water outlets used for drinking water and water dispensed for cooking and cleaning of eating and cooking utensils. The Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) lead drinking water standard limit is 15 micrograms per liter (ug/L) or parts per billion (ppb); however, RSMo 160.077 requires that all Missouri schools achieve a 5 ug/L limit of lead in water.
Through the GTL process, in cooperation with EWI, it has been determined that no drinking water sources were above the EPA standard limit of 15 ppb limit of lead in our school. The district did identify 4 drinking water sources above the RSMo 160.077 of 5 ppb. Those 4 sources were found in a faucet in our kitchen used for washing dishes (5.56 ppb), a faucet in the Superintendent’s office (7.89 ppb), a faucet in a high school classroom (12.2 ppb), and a bottle filling station in the Vo-Ag building (11 ppb). In each of these locations the district will perform remediation before having the location retested. For example, we will either change the aerators on the faucet, replace the entire fixture or in the case of the bottle filling station, completely replace the filter.
The district found levels above 5 ppb in 15 other outlets. However, each of these outlets are either no longer in use, are used exclusively for science experiments in our Middle School and High School Science labs, or to rinse brushes and art materials in the art room. Because of the possibility an individual could drink water from one of these locations, they will either be removed completely or the district will completely replace the fixtures and have these locations retested to determine if the levels are below 5 ppb.
For the past twelve years, classroom 106 (which has 4 outlets above 5 ppb and 1 above 15 ppb) has been utilized as storage and is not open to students. It is scheduled to be remodeled this summer and will be once again utilized as a classroom with all but one of the faucets completely removed. The remaining faucet will be replaced and retested. In the Vo-Ag Science room, 3 of the faucets tested above 5 ppb. Each of these are located at lab stations and will be completely removed. The sink basins located at each of the lab areas will be preserved and water can be drawn elsewhere for science experiments. The 6 sink faucets above 15 ppb in room 108 are all located at science lab stations which will either be completely removed or completely replaced and retested. Lastly, the faucet on a “plumber's sink” in the art room used for cleaning brushes and other materials will be completely replaced and retested.
Please click here to review the Lead in Drinking Water Report prepared by EWI for our district. This report provides specific information relative to every outlet tested and includes other information as required by RSMo 160.077. Please feel free to contact our Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Joshua Phillips with any questions or concerns or for additional information.
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