Update: Good News for School Water System After Latest Tests

Results of water testing in two schools where fixtures were replaced in hopes of reducing lead content have brought good news, officials said.

On Thursday, Brick Patch reported that at Brick Township High School and Lake Riviera Middle School, three water fountain fixtures identified as the source of elevated lead levels in earlier tests were replaced and a new round of testing was performed.

The results of the latest round of testing came in Thursday, Superintendent Dr. Walter Uszenski said, and the water quality met required standards.

"After re-testing those, which we will continue to do, all three came out well below the acceptable standard levels," said Uszenski.

In December, five township schools were identified as having lead levels at water sources that were above state-mandated standards, though not considered immediately dangerous.

Uszenski said the testing in two of the five schools shows that the fixtures themselves, rather than the school's entire water systems, may have produced the elevated lead levels.

Water fixtures in all of the affected schools will now be replaced, he said, and another round of testing will be done to confirm that all water access points in the five schools meet state standards.

"We're going to go to all of the fixtures where there were elevated levels and replace those, re-test, go back and make sure, and then we'll be able to turn everything back on," said Uszenski.

Uszenski said he would "not take any chances," and continue to test the water in all five schools to ensure that the water is clean.

The schools affected are:

• Drum Point Elementary School
• Brick Township High School
• Emma Havens Young Elementary School
• Lake Riviera Middle School
• Osbornville Elementary School