Lead Found In Numerous Water Sources At Manasquan High School

MANASQUAN, NJ — Water coolers are getting a lot of use now at Manasquan High School, since lead was found in almost 40 drinking water outlets in the school recently.

“Due to the age and infrastructure of our buildings, we anticipated having a problem and we are fortunate that it is isolated," Superintendent Frank Kasyan said in a letter to the school community on the district's website. "Being proactive, a water cooler plan was developed and the affected classrooms have already been addressed.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency requires that action be taken if lead levels in a sample exceed 15 parts per billion.

Kasyan discussed the school district’s lead testing results in a letter to the school district community that was posted on the school district’s website on Thursday, April 27.

“In accordance with the Department of Education regulations, the Manasquan School District will implement immediate remedial measures for any drinking water outlet with a result greater than the action level of 15 parts per billion," Kasyan said. "This includes turning off the outlet unless it is determined the location must remain on for non-drinking purposes. In these cases, a ‘DO NOT DRINK OR DO NOT USE’ sign will be posted.”

The district took 60 samples in the elementary school and all but eight came back below the action level. The district took 97 samples in the high school and all but 31 were below the action level.

A copy of the test results is available in the district's central office for inspection by the public, including
students, teachers, other school personnel, and parents, and can be viewed between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. The test results are also available on the district website at www.manasquanschools.org.

For more information about water quality in our schools, contact Matthew Hudson at 732.528.8820 ext.
1016 or Lynn Coates at 732.528.8803 ext. 1906.

Image: Patch file photo