Texas, listen up: Test for lead in all fountains

Fort Worth’s schools will have 400 new water fountains by the first day of school.

That should be only the start.

The facts now clearly show that children are at risk of lead exposure, mostly at home but sometimes in school water fountains.

Texas officials should direct every school and district to test and replace fountains as needed, particularly older fountains with lead tanks in schools more than 30 years old.

This effort didn’t start in Fort Worth. School districts nationwide have been alerted to the risks since the Flint, Mich., water crisis, with parents demanding testing at schools, recreation centers and day-care sites.

This is one kind of school testing everybody likes. But it’s also somewhat unpredictable.

Lead builds up in water tanks and lines on weekends and during summers. Lead particles may not show up at first. Test results must be repeated and rechecked for accuracy.

There is no “acceptable” level of lead in drinking water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But government agencies are not required to take action until exposure reaches 15 parts per billion.

One water fountain in a Fort Worth elementary school’s staff break room was six times that amount.

The American Medical Association has called for new state and federal laws requiring comprehensive testing and public reporting of lead levels in drinking water, particularly in schools and day-care sites.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has published more comprehensive guidelines.

That group calls not only for testing children to survey blood lead concentrations, but also for lowering the “action” level and changes of fountains with a lead concentration of more than 1 part per billion.

Fort Worth school officials are working to achieve the 15 parts per billion limit. That should be reviewed.

But generally, school officials have taken quick remedial action at a time when the danger of schoolhouse lead exposure is raising more concern nationally than in Texas.

The new water fountains will cost the district $800,000. Officials have said the money will come from a contingency fund.

The district also will emphasize flushing water lines and cafeteria faucets to clear lead accumulation before cooking begins.

The rate of lead exposure in children has dropped sharply in recent years, and the primary risk remains in older homes. Children should be tested.

But Fort Worth school officials should be applauded for making changes toward safer drinking water. The rest of Texas should follow.

This story was originally published August 2, 2016 at 5:22 PM with the headline "Texas, listen up: Test for lead in all fountains."