July 19, 2024
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are writing to let you know that Sunapee Central Elementary School recently completed testing for lead in drinking water. This is part of an ongoing effort related to New Hampshire’s House Bill 1421, which requires school and childcare facilities to test for lead in drinking water and to act when lead is found at levels at or above 5 parts per billion (ppb).
Lead is a toxic heavy metal that has a range of adverse health effects if inhaled or swallowed. Lead rarely occurs naturally in New Hampshire’s drinking water sources (groundwater or surface water). It typically enters drinking water due to the wearing away of piping, faucets, fixtures, and other plumbing materials.
Because lead is tasteless, odorless, and colorless in drinking water, testing is the only way to learn whether lead is present. It is important to sample each faucet or water fountain used for drinking or food prep because test results can vary between locations.
During recent testing, we collected samples from 11 drinking water outlets (e.g., drinking fountains, classroom faucets, kitchen sinks), with 3 samples testing at or above 5 ppb, the level where action must be taken.
We have removed access to these outlets until the problem can be corrected. The chart below shows a list of all of the tested outlets, their locations, sample results, and our planned remediation. If the result column shows 'BRL” (below reporting limit), no lead was detected above the laboratory's reporting limit.
R122005-1- Hallway WF Drinking Fountain 1.96
R122005-2-Teacher’s Room Kitchen Faucet 5.34
R122005-3-Hallway Drinking Fountain 9.60
R122005-4-Kitchen (Near Window) Kitchen Faucet <0.4
R122005-6-Middle Station Kitchen Faucet <0.4
R122005-7- Outside 1103 Drinking Fountain 1.44
R122005-8- Hand Washing Sink Kitchen Faucet 0.725
R122005-9- Water Fountain Near Office Drinking Fountain <0.4
R122005-10- Gym Entrance Fountain Drinking Fountain <0.4
R122005-11- Gym Teacher Room 12 Bathroom Faucet 17.7
R122005-12- Sink In Coaches Office Bathroom Faucet 1.95
All sample results and additional resources from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) can be viewed at gettheleadoutnh.org.
Sincerely,
Russell E Holden
Superintendent of Schools