In the historic town of Philipsburg, once a bustling mining hub and now a popular tourist destination, students were spotted entering the lobby of Granite High School. As they passed by, their attention was drawn to a newly installed filtered water bottle fill station.
The water samples collected from the newly installed drinking fountain at the station had a lead concentration of 10 parts per billion. This level exceeds Montana’s legal limit for schools, which is 5 parts per billion for the toxic metal.
Thomas Gates, the superintendent and principal of the small Philipsburg School District, is concerned that the recent installation of new faucets, sinks, and filters for around 30 water sources is only a temporary solution. Given that the high school, constructed in 1912, is likely to have outdated pipes and infrastructure, much like the rest of this historic town, Gates is apprehensive about the long-term effectiveness of these upgrades.
Gates mentioned that even if we replace the faucets or any other component, lead would still be forced into the water.
The school in Philipsburg is one of hundreds in Montana grappling with how to remove lead from their water after state officials mandated schools test for it. So far, 74% of schools that submitted samples found at least one faucet or drinking fountain with high lead levels. Many of those schools are still trying to trace the source of the problem and find the money for long-term fixes.
In his Feb. 7 State of the Union address, President Joe Biden said the infrastructure bill he championed in 2021 will help fund the replacement of lead pipes that serve “400,000 schools and child care centers, so every child in America can drink clean water.”
However, as of mid-February, states were still waiting to hear how much infrastructure money they’ll receive, and when. And schools are trying to figure out how to respond to toxic levels of lead now. The federal government hasn’t required schools and child care centers to test for lead, though it has awarded grants to states for voluntary testing.
During the past decade, nationwide unease has been stirred by news of unsafe drinking water in places like Flint, Michigan. Politicians have promised to increase checks in schools where kids — who are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning — drink water daily. Lead poisoning slows children’s development, causing learning, speech, and behavioral challenges. The metal can cause organ and nervous system damage.
A new report by advocacy group Environment America Research & Policy Center showed that most states fall short in providing oversight for lead in schools. And the testing that has happened to this point shows widespread contamination from rural towns to major cities.
At least 19 states require schools to test for lead in drinking water. A 2022 law in Colorado requires child care providers and schools that serve any kids from preschool through fifth grade to test their drinking water by May 31 and, if needed, make repairs. Meanwhile, California leaders, who mandated lead testing in schools in 2017, are considering requiring districts to install filters on water sources with high levels of lead.
With increased scrutiny from states, schools face the challenge of implementing complex and costly solutions.
Congress allocated $15 billion for the replacement of lead pipes and $200 million for lead testing and remediation in schools while passing the infrastructure bill.
The origin of the 400,000 figure mentioned by President Biden regarding the schools and child care centers requiring pipe replacement was not disclosed by White House spokesperson Abdullah Hasan. Even various clean-water advocacy organizations were unaware of the source behind this number.
Part of the issue is that no one knows how many lead pipes are funneling drinking water into schools.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates between 6 million and 10 million lead service lines are in use nationwide. Those are the small pipes that connect water mains to plumbing systems in buildings. Other organizations say there could be as many as 13 million.
According to John Rumpler, the senior director for the Clean Water for America Campaign at Environment America, the issue extends further than just those pipes.
Larger schools often face the issue of inadequate lead pipe connections to public water systems. The primary source of water contamination in these buildings is more likely to be attributed to aging faucets, fountains, and internal plumbing systems.
According to Rumpler, lead contamination in schools’ drinking water can occur even in the absence of lead pipes connecting to a municipal water source. Due to their intricate plumbing systems, schools have numerous points where water can come into contact with lead.
Despite the initial 2021 deadline, there are still gaps in Montana’s data on lead-contaminated school water. Although Montana has collected more data on this issue compared to most other states, 149 out of the state’s 591 schools have not yet submitted samples to the state.
According to Jon Ebelt, a spokesperson from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, the state has adjusted its deadline to accommodate the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. They are actively collaborating with schools that require additional time to complete their testing.
According to Greg Montgomery, the person in charge of Montana’s lead monitoring program, testing can occasionally encounter delays due to staff turnover in school districts. In smaller districts, the responsibility of ensuring testing takes place may fall on a single custodian. Conversely, larger districts may have dedicated maintenance teams for this task, but they also face the challenge of covering a significantly larger area.
Outside Burley McWilliams’ Missoula County Public Schools office, about 75 miles northwest of Philipsburg, sit dozens of water samples in small plastic bottles for a second round of lead testing. Director of operations and maintenance for the district of roughly 10,000 students, McWilliams said lead has become a weekly topic of discussion with his schools’ principals, who have heard concerns from parents and employees.
Bags taped over faucets and blocked drinking fountains and classroom sinks were evident in multiple schools within the district, indicating the remaining tasks at hand.
The district utilized approximately $30,000 to address the initial issues with essential water sources, which involved replacing components such as faucets and sinks. To upgrade certain outdated infrastructure, the school secured federal COVID funds specifically allocated for purchasing water bottle stations. However, if the newly installed components fail to resolve the problem, the district may be compelled to replace the pipes, a costly measure that is currently not accounted for in the budget.
McWilliams stated that his district received approximately $1,000 from the initial $40,000 allocation by the state for schools’ lead mitigation.
McWilliams expressed his frustration with the process, stating that the lack of additional funding was a major concern. He remains hopeful that state or federal funds will be allocated soon. Additionally, he anticipates the completion of the latest round of testing by March.
On February 14, Montgomery expressed his anticipation in receiving news about the federal funding allocated for assisting schools with lead mitigation. He stated that he expects to be informed about it imminently.
In Philipsburg, Chris Cornelius, the head custodian of the schools, keeps a handwritten inventory of water sources with elevated lead levels on his desk. A noticeable sign, prominently displayed near the sink in his office, warns in bold letters that the water is unfit for consumption.
State data reveals that 50% of the 55 faucets in the high school building exhibited elevated lead concentrations, necessitating their repair, replacement, or disconnection.
Cornelius diligently addressed areas of concern by installing new sinks in the gym locker rooms, replacing faucets and inlet pipes for fixtures that showed elevated levels, and implementing water bottle fill stations equipped with built-in filtration systems similar to the one found in the school’s lobby.
While samples from numerous fixtures have been deemed safe, there were instances where certain fixtures experienced deterioration, indicating that the underlying issue extends further within specific areas of the building.
Cornelius was getting ready for his third attempt at testing. He intended to let the water run for a duration of 12 to 14 hours prior to the test and remove faucet filters that appeared to be collecting dirt from beneath. His goal was to reduce the concentration to a level that would meet the state’s set thresholds and enable him to pass.
The EPA recommends collecting water samples for testing at least eight hours after the fixtures were last used, which “maximizes the likelihood that the highest concentrations of lead will be found.”
Cornelius is unsure of what steps to take if the lead concentrations in the water sources remain high.
“I’ve explored all options at this stage,” Cornelius stated. “My final recourse is either to put up additional signs or cease its operation.”
KHN correspondent Rachana Pradhan contributed to this report.
