Two Andover Schools Test Positive For Lead Or Copper

ANDOVER — The water at two Andover schools tested positive for lead or copper, but school officials say the positive tests came from outdated, seldom used contaminated fixtures.

Officials stress there has been no harm to students or staff, according to the Eagle-Tribune.
Superintendent Sheldon Berman said in a press release Wednesday that elevated levels of lead were found in broken fixtures at West Elementary School.

Elevated levels of copper also were found in one fixture at Shawsheen Preschool.
"The most recent water samples were collected in September and November 2016, with the final results reported in December," the press release states.

Random samples were taken at every school. Nearly all of the samples from all of the sites met the established safety standards, the release states.
Out of 27 samples taken at West Elementary School, five "exceeded the Massachusetts Action Level for lead and two exceeded the Action Level for Copper," according to the release.

All seven affected samples were taken from broken water fixtures that were not in service.
At Shawsheen Preschool, one drinking fountain presented "higher than allowable levels of copper," according to the release.

Six sites were tested throughout the preschool, and the other five samples came back clean. None of the six sites at Shawsheen showed elevated levels of lead.
Of the district's other seven schools, neither lead nor copper was detected in the water.

In 2004 and 2005, the Andover Municipal Services Department tested every water fixture at all Andover schools for levels of lead and copper — "two substances that can have a negative impact on health if ingested or absorbed in significant quantities over a period of time," according to the release.
At that time, all fixtures that exceeded allowable levels of lead or copper were repaired, replaced, or removed, and since then, the Municipal Services Department has periodically tested water fixtures for lead and copper.

The testing also determined that the high levels of lead and copper did not come from the town's water supply, but rather are directly correlated to the age and lack of use of the fixtures themselves. None of the Andover schools has any lead pipes.

Berman also promised in the press release that "Andover Public Schools will continue regular water testing."

The press release explains that exposure to lead is a concern because "lead is a toxic metal that has a range of adverse health effects primarily in young children under the age of 6 if they drink the water."
The Andover School Department does not believe there is any risk to the health and safety of students, faculty or staff.

All faulty fixtures either have been, or are in the process of being, permanently removed and the pipes capped.

Berman encouraged anyone with questions or concerns to call his office at 978-247-7010.