For immediate release

For Immediate Release

Friday, June 10, 2016

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Contact: Christine Bongiorno
Phone: 781-316-3170
Email: [email protected]

Arlington Health Department to Conduct Voluntary Drinking Water Testing in Schools

No Historic Indication of Lead or other Contaminates in Water

ARLINGTON — Christine Bongiorno, Director of Health and Human Services, announces that, in conjunction with Arlington Public Schools and Superintendent Kathleen Bodie, the Town of Arlington has applied for a grant through the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a full round of water testing within each of the public school buildings, develop a regular sampling program and a plumbing profile in each school.

There is significant national public scrutiny around the issue of public drinking water and lead contamination, and the spotlight has been shining on school water supplies in Massachusetts in recent months.

Director Bongiorno would like to highlight the fact that that drinking water testing results in Arlington Public Schools have historically been below Environmental Protection Agency action levels for lead. With the recent media attention regarding lead in drinking water in Flint, Michigan, many here in Massachusetts have been interested in learning about local school drinking water test results. Arlington drinking water comes from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority and water testing is conducted in two schools and two daycare operations per year in Arlington through the Arlington Water Department.

“We are fortunate in Arlington to have a younger plumbing infrastructure within our public school system than many other communities, which tends to result in lower lead levels in drinking water than other school systems in Massachusetts and around the nation,” Director Bongiorno said.

The results of the testing will be made available to the public as soon as possible.

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