Unsafe Lead Levels Detected In Drinking Water At Northwood School Dist.; Parent Shares Videos of Cloudy Water
MINONG, Wis. — Unsafe levels of lead have been discovered in the Northwood School District’s drinking water distribution system.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conducted water testing of the district, which revealed samples that exceeded the safe limit.
Of the five tap locations that were tested, two showed elevated lead levels (15.2 ppb and 31.5 ppb), which exceeded the EPA’s Lead Action Level of 15 ppb.
According to district officials, the two faucets are located in the middle/high school side of the building and are not intended for filling water bottles.
Parent says this water was from a faucet in a girls’ bathroom
The district has since shut off the affected faucets and issued a public notice at the request of the DNR.
Until the issue is resolved, the district will continue further water quality monitoring and submit a corrosion control recommendation worksheet.
Although only two locations exceeded the limits, DNR officials emphasized that no level of lead is considered safe.
Meanwhile, concerned parents reached out to FOX 21.
One of the parents provided videos (see below) that she said was taken by her 6th-grader on Oct. 13 at two locations in the school, which is the same month the DNR did its sampling.
One video shows cloudy water from a faucet in the girls’ bathroom and the other from a water bottle fill-up station by the gymnasium, according to the parent.
FOX 21 has not confirmed if the water in the videos actually contained levels of lead beyond the threshold.
Supt. Scot Kelly said stand-alone drinking coolers and bottles of water are being provided to students until everything gets figured out. He said the water out of the faucets continues to be safe for handwashing and cleaning.
