Lead in Atlanta schools: Is your school’s drinking water safe?

More than half of Atlanta Public Schools buildings tested have high levels of lead in their drinking water.

That means that at one or more sources tested in the school, lead levels exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency limit for water systems of 15 parts per billion. The EPA recommends that schools take water fountains and other water sources out of service if lead levels exceed 20 parts per billion.

But even children at schools that weren't flagged for high levels of lead could be at risk: There is no "safe" level for lead exposure in children. Even low levels of lead in children's blood can result in behavior and learning problems, lower IQ, slowed growth and other problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

School Built / Latest Renovation Results Follow-up
Agnes Jones 2005 No levels above 15 ppb found  
Archer (temporary site for Boyd Elementary) 1955/1985 Sink, boys bathroom #115A2: 35 ppb; Office bathroom #119A: 511 ppb; Kitchen #122: 160 ppb; Kitchen sink: 61.2 ppb Change faucets for 115A, office bathroom and kitchen sinks and flush bathroom sinks. Plumber working on.
BEST Academy 2009 No levels above 15 ppb found  
Blalock 1971 Sink room 125: 20.5 Sink flushed
Bolton Academy 2003 No levels above 15 ppb found  
Brewer Building 1958/1990 Water fountain at entrance on left: 17.7 ppb; CPR training room sink: 37.1 ppb Sink, fountain flushed. Awaiting retest results.
Bunche 1957/2015 No levels above 15 ppb found  
Carver 1920/2005 No levels above 15 ppb found  
Cascade 1995 Room 302: 37 ppb; Room 317: 21 ppm Sinks flushed. Awaiting retest results.
Cleveland 1975/2000 No levels above 15 ppb found  
Continental Colony 1963/2011 No levels above 15 ppb found  
Coretta Scott King 2009 Ste 327 sink: 286 ppb Flushed. Follow-up test below 15 ppb.
Crim 1940/2007 Fountain near 2401: 19.3 ppb; Clinic sink, 1116: 137 ppb; Fountain near 1212: 26.5 ppb Sources flushed. Fountain near 2401: 20.8 ppb; Clinic sink, 1116: 118 ppb; Fountain near 1212: 27.2 ppb. Awaiting equipment replacement, additional flushing.
Facilities 1965 Locksmith sink: 16.9 ppb; IT warehouse fountain: 26.4 ppb Faucet replaced; follow-up test: 4.24 ppb. Fountain replaced; follow-up test: 39.9 ppb; fountain flushed; awaiting retest results.
Grady 1924/2005 Men's restroom sink (G1110): 90.8 ppb Sink flushed. Awaiting retest results.
Hope-Hill 2002 Room C107: 52.7 ppb Sink flushed. Follow-up test below 15 ppb.
Inman 1923/2005 Water fountain near boys restroom 30322: 92.3 ppb; First sink on right for boys restroom 3032: 16.2 ppb; Women's restroom in auditorium 1028: 243 ppb; Men's restroom in auditorium 1029: 41.3 ppb Flushed
Jackson HS 1963/2014 No levels above 15 ppb found  
Oglethorpe 1958/2002 No levels above 15 ppb found  
Peterson (adult literacy site) 1959 Media center sink: 76.2 ppb Sink flushed. Awaiting retest results.
Sarah Smith Intermediate   Kitchen pot wash sink: 51.8 ppb Sink flushed. Follow-up test below 15 ppb.
Sarah Smith Primary   No levels above 15 ppb found  
Slater 1952/2002 No levels above 15 ppb found  
Sutton 1951/2011 Fountain near Room 362: 27.6 ppb Awaiting facilities
Sutton 6th Grade Academy 1978/2006 Gym concession sink: 25 ppb Awaiting facilities
Sylvan 1966/1996 No levels above 15 ppb found  
Therrell 1960/2011 Room 302: 25.8 ppb Sink flushed. Follow-up test below 15 ppb.
Toomer 1967/1998 No levels above 15 ppb found  
Usher-Collier Heights 1969/2003 Workroom 2118: 63.9 ppb Sink flushed. Follow-up test results: 218 ppb. Faucet replaced. Awaiting retest results.
Washington 1924/2005 No levels above 15 ppb found  

Source: APS test results through June 27 obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution under the Georgia Open Records Act

Note: 25 samples were taken at each site except for Sarah Smith Intermediate (17 samples), BEST Academy (50 samples for middle and high school) and Coretta Scott King (50 samples for middle and high school).

>>Read more: More than half of the Atlanta Public Schools buildings tested have high lead levels