Is there lead in your school's water pipes?
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
Eugene, Oregon
June 1, 2016 2:33pm CST
Residents of the city of Portland, Oregon is in an uproar with the school board over the presence of lead in as many as 47 public school water fountains. The situation is made worse by the school board's failure to report any problem, though they knew about it as early as 2012.
This is not only Portland's problem. It could be in schools that your kids attend as well. In fact, any school, daycare center or home for that matter built before 1986 could have dangerous levels of lead in the water. Many schools around the country have discovered this problem and some have concealed it from
A lot of us here went to schools that were built prior to 1986 and have no apparent ills that we know of. There is no safe level of lead exposure though, so if I had a child attending school in an old building, I would be pushing the school district to do some testing.
Has this lead problem in school pipes surfaced where you live? Does is alarm you at all or is it and uproar over nothing to you?
12 people like this
11 responses
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Jun 16
At my age, it is possible I drank from lead contaminated fountains. Why are schools keeping quiet about it? Afraid of lawsuits?
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
1 Jun 16
I can't imagine why, except that they probably have no money to fix the problem. It is really a problem for Portland and may other areas of the country, not mention lead paint.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
2 Jun 16
@JamesHxstatic School administrators live by one rule, MAKE NO WAVES. Anyone who makes noise, either good or bad, has a short career.
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
2 Jun 16
We older folks drank the water before the pipes corroded, so we were safe. They are old now, and leeching lead into the water.
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Jun 16
Not hearing can be the same as not telling. I would call the schools and ask the question of the principal to start with.
3 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
2 Jun 16
@JamesHxstatic He will lie. You have to go to the district office and ask to see the inspection reports. This is public information and they must show you by law.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189880)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Jun 16
It surfaced several years ago. One junior high was demolished because of it.
3 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
2 Jun 16
i think perhaps the deterioration 'f the pipes's leadin' to more lead bein' leached out. i find such alarmin', but'd not be surprised to find that such's true here's well. the original high school was built back'n the early 50's here's well's one'f the junior highs that're still bein' used. lead'n the paint, ol' pipes 'n the like's no doubt a huge possibility.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Jun 16
Today, it was disclosed that many classrooms in Portland tested high for radon too.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
3 Jun 16
@JamesHxstatic what the heck?? wonder how long that's been goin'? i get so frustrated these days with the school systems
@DeborahDiane (40847)
• Laguna Woods, California
2 Jun 16
That is so heart-breaking! Lead causes learning disabilities that are irreversible. The difference can be subtle, but permanent.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Jun 16
It seems to be a hidden danger in old buildings of almost any kind.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
2 Jun 16
@JamesHxstatic Yes, and probably most of the homes in the U.S. too.
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Jun 16
Probably not, but if I had children or grandchildren there, I would be asking.
2 people like this
@CRK109 (14556)
• United States
2 Jun 16
@JamesHxstatic I was thinking of that while commenting here. I have no children or grandchildren so I don't hear a lot of what's happening with the schools. However, as a taxpayer in this community, we usually do get notified when some big changes have to happen to any of those buildings. So I just don't know if they've changed over or not. I really do hope they have by this point.
@Tampa_girl7 (54715)
• United States
2 Jun 16
We haven't had this problem. I bet it exists in many places.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Jun 16
But has it been tested to determine if there is a problem?
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Jun 16
It is pretty scary to consider. OPB has some good info about it all.
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
2 Jun 16
It horrifies me, but was not a problem where I taught, as the water was turned off in the fountains, because they were in such disrepair. Schools all over the country are falling apart. Children are in danger, and no one seems to care.
I think there should be mandatory inspections by a third party (not the school districts and not paid by them). Repairs should be required, and the states should pay for them. Prisoners have better conditions, and this is intentional. It is a disgrace.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Jun 16
The state of education in many parts of the country is abysmal I know.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
2 Jun 16
@JamesHxstatic From what I hear, this is true all over.
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
1 Jun 16
I bet the school where I grew up has/had it. Probably asbestos, too. It was a very old school, even back in the late 60's/early 70's.
1 person likes this
