Test reveals elevated lead in water at Howard County school district

GREENTOWN — A rural school district in central Indiana isn’t allowing students or employees to use its tap water after testing discovered elevated levels of lead.

Eastern Howard Schools outside Kokomo received test results on Jan. 29 that indicated lead levels above U.S. Environmental Protection Agency limits, the Kokomo Tribune reported.

The school district initiated the testing after learning in November that Greentown Municipal Water had sent a letter out to residents in October, informing them they had found elevated levels of lead in some homes and buildings.

A letter sent to parents by Superintendent Tracy Caddell on Thursday said the water will be shut off in classrooms, and the district will approve a series of tests for every school building. The water was shut off at the request of the Howard County Health Department, in conjunction with the Indiana State Department of Health, after school officials contacted the agencies for counsel, Caddell said in the letter.

Both agencies began conducting their own tests Thursday morning to see if any further actions need to be taken.

School officials on Thursday placed trash bags over drinking fountains and sinks to cut off all use of water. They also barred access to the swimming pool.

Outside water was brought in for drinking and cooking.

The district has started taking steps to replace the pipes that may have cause the elevated lead levels and is “working closely with all parties to quickly resolve this issue,” Caddell said.