F.C. Reports Elevated Lead Levels at 2 Fairfax Schools

A press statement from the City of Falls Church Tuesday reported that an expanded testing effort has found isolated cases of elevated levels of lead in water provided by the City-owned water system and services 120,000 customers throughout Northern Virginia.

Among the locations where levels of lead were discovered to exceed the Environmental Protection Agency's recommended 20 parts per billion were the Freedom Hill Elementary School at 1945 Lord Fairfax Drive and the J.E.B. Stuart High School at 3301 Peace Valley Lane, both locations in Fairfax County.

The elevated levels were both found at sinks, one a nursing station sink and the other a kitchen sink. In both places, water taken from drinking fountains was found to be well below the EPA compliance level.

Further tests are being taken at both these locations. A total of 222 water samples had been taken as of Tuesday from all public and private schools served by the Falls Church water system.

The City continues to distribute water sample kits and to work closely with Fairfax County Public Schools to confirm the initial results and determine appropriate steps should a second round of testing continue to demonstrate elevated lead levels, the City's press statement said.