In The Valley, Press Release

Dept. of Health Confirms Water is Safe at William Allen and Union Terrace is Safe



 

Pennsylvania Department of Health Confirms

Water at William Allen and Union Terrace is Safe

Dr. Farhad Ahmed, Health Assessment Section Chief, Bureau of Epidemiology at the Pennsylvania Department of Health requested and received the data and results from water testing done at William Allen High School and Union Terrace Elementary School. He and his team reviewed the information and today, April 1, the District received an email from Dr. Ahmed that states the following: 

The Department of Health has reviewed the results of the water testing samples collected on 03/28/2016 at William Allen High School and Union Terrace Elementary School, by Element Environmental Solutions (analyzed by M.J. Reider Associates of Reading, PA). 

All the results are below the EPA’s action level of 0.015 mg/L (15 µg/L or 15 ppb). Based on these results for lead, the water is safe to use for consumption.

Element Environmental Solutions, Inc. had 20 water samples collected by their licensed and certified sample professionals on Monday, March 28, after water in both schools sat unused for 4 days. The EPA guidelines recommend that water sit for at least a minimum of 6 hours before testing. All samples were collected in accordance with EPA testing protocols that incorporate the Federal Lead and Copper Rule. The samples were tested and analyzed by M.J. Reider Associates, Inc. of Reading, PA – a DEP-certified laboratory. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection only recognizes lead and copper water sample results analyzed by DEP-certified laboratories.

All results were under the EPA action levels as confirmed by the Department of Health.

It should be noted that the ASD Facilities Plan had already included water testing in a number of ASD buildings this year and has expanded that to include testing all ASD buildings. At the March 31 Board Meeting, the School Board of Directors approved a proposal to do this water testing in all ASD buildings.
 

Information provided by:
Kimberly Golden Benner
Director of Communications
Allentown School District