Drinking Water Quality Program
Our Commitment to Safe & Healthy Drinking Water
The health and safety of our students, staff, and school community is a top priority for Orcas Island School District (OISD). In 2024, OISD began voluntarily conducting drinking water testing to ensure our facilities provide safe, clean water for everyone in our schools. This commitment aligns with state and federal guidelines to minimize lead exposure and protect public health.
Our Testing Program
Testing is essential to identify drinking water outlets that may contribute to lead exposure, particularly in older or infrequently used fixtures. Through testing, potential sources of lead are identified, and appropriate actions—such as shutting off or replacing fixtures—are taken to reduce exposure.
2024 Voluntary Testing: OISD began voluntarily testing drinking water in 2024, following the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines, which recommend taking action if lead levels in drinking water exceed 15 parts per billion (ppb).
2021 State Requirements: In 2021, Washington State implemented new requirements for all K–12 public schools, requiring all drinking water fixtures in schools built, or with plumbing replaced, before 2016 be tested for lead by June 30, 2026, with retesting at least once every five years thereafter. These regulations also introduced a more protective standard, requiring action for any water fixture testing above 5 ppb. While these action levels are not direct measures of health effects, they signal the need to reduce lead concentrations in drinking water.
What We’ve Learned
On June 18 2024, during Phase 1, 30 drinking water outlets at Orcas Island School were sampled. Phase 2 testing was conducted on December 17, 2024. Water from outlets used for drinking or food preparation were tested for lead by a state-accredited laboratory. Test results show 7 outlets with elevated lead levels. Per RCW 28A.210.410, elevated lead level means a lead concentration in drinking water that exceeds five parts per billion (ppb).
What We’re Doing
Upon receiving test results, water to outlets with elevated lead levels was shut off or made inaccessible for drinking.
We are working closely with the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) to develop a remediation plan for reducing lead levels in drinking water. Link to action plan will be provided shortly.
Why Lead is a Concern
Children are exposed to lead from a variety of environmental sources. Each exposure contributes to the amount of lead in a child’s body. Some common exposure sources include:
• Dust from old, deteriorating lead paint.
• Contaminated soil.
• Lead dust tracked into the home from external sources, such as parents and regular visitors who work in certain industries where lead is present.
While the likelihood of school drinking water alone causing an elevated blood lead level is very low, it is important to reduce exposure from every source as much as possible. Children six years old and younger are the most susceptible to the effects of lead. Their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults, and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. Even at very low levels of exposure, children may experience effects, such as lower IQ levels, reduced attention span, hyperactivity, poor classroom performance, or other harmful physical and behavioral effects. Children over the age of eight are less susceptible to the impacts of lead exposure. Children who have been exposed to lead may not look or act sick. The best way to tell if a child has been exposed is with a blood lead test.
Ongoing Efforts
Once initial testing and remediation under the updated requirements are complete, OISD is committed to maintaining a proactive retesting schedule. Schools built or renovated before 2016 will be tested at least once every five years. This regular schedule ensures any emerging issues are promptly identified and addressed, safeguarding the quality of drinking water across the district.