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Water Testing

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Drinking and cooking water at Charlottesville City Schools has been tested for lead following state and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidance. Action is required when testing finds lead at levels greater than 15 parts per billion (ppb). The most recent drinking/cooking water results are all below this limit.

History of Water Testing in Charlottesville Schools

 

In 2016-2017, all schools’ high priority faucets (sources of drinking or cooking water) were tested. Samples were collected by the City of Charlottesville Facility Maintenance and were tested by several labs.  Out of the 326 fixtures, initially 9 tested higher than the 15 ppb threshold set by the EPA (and were temporarily taken out of service at that time). Following EPA protocols, a second test was conducted in January 2017, and at that point, 4 fixtures were cleared for use and 5 required additional attention. After measures were taken to address those 5 fixtures, they were tested again in February 2017, and all 5 met EPA standards. The 5 fixtures — located at Burnley-Moran (2), CHS, Jackson-Via, and Johnson – were then reopened for use.

  • Facilities Management will test the specified location and retest any fixture that in the previous year tested 7.5 or higher (half of the allowable quantity).

    Retesting will take place on the following schedule (and repeated thereafter):

     

     

    LOCATION:

    Scheduled Testing

    Lugo-McGinness, Central Offices, Retests

    2020

    Venable and Retests

    2021

    Clark and Retests

    2022

    Walker and Retests

    2023

    Buford and Retests

    2024

    Greenbrier and Retests

    2025

    Burnley-Moran and Retests

    2026

    Johnson and Retests

    2027

    Jackson-Via and Retests

    2028

    CHS Stage 1 and Retests

    2029

     

    CHS Stage 2 and Retests

    2030

     

     

    Questions? 

  • Having received full clearance for high priority fixtures, Charlottesville’s Facilities Maintenance department has adopted the following preventative measures, as recommended by the EPA, to ensure that drinking water remains safe:

     

    • Clean debris from accessible screens (aerators) frequently. Clean and inspect periodically.
    • Thoroughly flush holding tanks to remove sediment.