Leonia Schools Shut 6 Water Fountains With High Lead Levels

LEONIA, N.J. -- Leonia school officials have shut six of the district's 98 fountains and receptacles at all three schools, the annex and the Board of Education headquarters after testing showed unacceptable lead levels, authorities said.

Jerry DeMarco

04/19/2016 11:05 a.m.

"The school district took immediate action by closing the affected fountains/receptacles," Schools Supt. Joanne T. Megargee wrote in an email to parents. "Remediation to replace all filters and/or affected water fountains has been started, and retesting of water from these receptacles will occur before any of the affected water fountains are reopened.

"We are currently awaiting a final report from the testing agency."

Although New Jersey schools aren't required to test for lead, the district "hired an environmental testing agency to take water samples after reading about school districts, both local and in other states, experiencing higher than expected levels of lead," Megargee said.

Updates will be provided, she said.

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