A Maine school district canceled its classes Friday after routine tests found elevated levels of lead in the water used by the facilities and fed through water fountains and sinks, WMTW reports.
Levels of lead in drinking water measuring under 15 ppm would require extensive replacement and repairs; in about 15% of the fixtures in the schools tested, measurements were above that level. A third of the fixtures tested had levels between 4 ppm to 15 ppm, which requires mitigation according to state regulations. The school district has purchased 10,000 bottles of drinking water, and will undertake the replacement of fixtures as a way to fix the problem.