Tacoma parents seek answers during lead testing

While technicians keep testing for lead in the water in some Tacoma schools, and public utility crews work to fix lead contamination at some homes, parents are looking for answers.
 
"There's been a dramatic increase in calls in the last few days especially," said Dr. Brian Berry, medical director of pediatrics for Franciscan Medical Group. "We've ordered a lot of lead tests."
 
Berry said his office conducted one or two tests for lead in children last year. That has skyrocketed to nearly 75 tests in just the last two weeks. And he says that's a good idea for parents worried about their kids.
 
"If there's known exposure at one of the schools or at their home then they should bring their child in. They shouldn't be alarmed, but they should be concerned," said Berry.
 
Tacoma's school district has identified eleven schools with unacceptable levels of lead in some water sources. Tacoma Public Utilities says there may be as many as 1,700 homes with older gooseneck connections to the water main that are partially made of lead. TPU is working to track down those connections and eliminate them.
 
"It's absolutely our role to get rid of the goosenecks," said Chris McMeen of the city's water department.
 
The school system is also testing and re-testing faucets and drinking fountains at all its schools.
 
It costs around $1,500 to test each Tacoma school for possible contamination, and with 66 schools in the system, testing could get expensive.  Especially after the district announced they are tightening requirements from the state mandated lead action level of 20 parts per billion, to the federal E-P-A's recommendation of 15 parts per billion.
 
"We're very close to finalizing a plan where we have all schools and district facilities tested before the end of the school year," said school district spokesman Dan Voelpel.

Cox Media Group