Testing for Lead in Drinking Water - Public and Nonpublic Schools

 Important Information for Schools Testing During the 2020-2021 School Year

Maryland’s regulations require schools to test for the presence of lead in all drinking water outlets on a State-established three-year cycle, unless a waiver from future testing has been granted.  Since testing is required to be conducted when schools are in regular session, closures and capacity reductions resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may have disrupted such testing previously planned during the 2020-2021 school year.  Click on the links below to find additional information regarding the testing requirements and procedures, and advice about best flushing practices to enhance water quality in school buildings during the 2020-2021 school year:

Schools that plan to test during the 2020-2021 school year should conduct the complete round of standard testing with all samples collected before the end of the testing period (i.e., July 1, 2021) or by the end of the 2020-2021 school year, whichever occurs sooner.  The schools have 14 days (from the date of sample collection) to submit samples to a MD-certified laboratory, where the samples must be analyzed within 6 months of preservation.  The school shall then report all test results to MDE, MSDE, Maryland Department of Health (MDH), and the appropriate local health department within 30 days of samples being analyzed by the laboratory.  This may be accomplished by submitting required reporting documents to testresults.leadschoolwater@maryland.gov​.​

Guidance on Testing for Lead in Drinking Water and Recommendation on Flushing Outlets in Schools during the 2020-2021 Academic School Year

Flowchart on Testing for Lead in Drinking Water and Recommendation on Flushing Outlets in Schools during the 2020-2021 Academic School Year​

School Building Flushing - Links to Guidance ​​

Status of Implementation

Summary of Results

As of June 3, 2021 MDE has received a total of 61,979 first-draw lead sample results from 23 public school systems, 236 nonpublic schools, and eight charter schools. Of this number, 2,551 samples (4.1%) exceeded the Action Level (AL) of 20 parts per billion (ppb) of lead effective through May 31, 2021: 1,134 (1.8%) were from drinking water outlets and 1,393 (2.3%) were from non-consumption outlets. Of the samples that exceed the AL, there were 24 samples (1%) for which a use determination could not be made​.​​The following tables present the above information in greater detail and will be updated as more data become available.

Summary of First-Draw Sample Results for Public, Nonpublic, and Charter Schools

Summary of Waivers and Deferrals

MDE has received 706 applications for a twelve-month deferral from initial testing, and, in consultation with MSDE, has granted approval to 702 applications. The remaining 4 applications did not meet the requirements for approval. MDE has received 122 applications for three-year deferrals in initial testing; 106 of these did not meet the requirements for approval, and the remaining 16 are pending due to review of supplementary information. MDE has received 151 applications for waivers from testing; 116 did not meet the strict requirements for approval, and the remaining 35 are under review at this time. The following tables present the above information in greater detail and will be updated as more data become available.

Summary of Deferrals

Summary of Waivers

Annual Report to the Governor and the Maryland General Assembly

Period ending July 1, 2019​

Period ending July 1, 2018

Reporting

• ALL test results (non-elevated AND elevated) must be submitted using the NEW Laboratory Results Reporting Form EDD and sent to:

testresults.leadschoolwater@maryland.gov​

(This ensures that all test results will be available to all applicable State and local agencies)

• All waiver application forms must be sent to MDE and MSDE​
  

reporting.leadschoolwater@maryland.gov​

• All other reporting forms (see "Important Forms" below) must be sent to:

testresults.leadschoolwater@maryland.gov​

When emailing reporting forms, applications, or other documents, please name the forms using the following format:

Name of form_name of school

 If you have problems with the 120Water platform, please contact Daniel Lundberg at 120Water.  His email is Daniel@120water.com and the support line is (800) 674-7961 

Important Forms

• Waiver Application Type 1 - Prior Testing        

• Waiver Application Type 2 - Bottled Water

• Waiver Application Type 3 - Lead-Free Building​

• Sample Collection F​orm​​​

  • Additional copies of Page 2​​​​

• Lead Sample Summary Certification Form

•  Laboratory Results Reporting Form (New EDD version) - Send to testresults.leadschoolwater@maryland.gov​

• Important Notice: Elevated Lead Sample Result(s) Template

• Certification for Elevated Lead Sample Result (s) Notice

• Remedial Plan of Action Form​​

• Completion o​f Remed​iation Form​​ 

Guidance Materials

• ​ Testing Requ​irements and Related Documents​.​
  

• Flowchart of Testing Requirements​​

• Timelines for Initial Testing and Deferred Testing

• State-certified Laboratory List

• Lead Sample Collection Instructions

• MDE Training Presentation

• Example Signage for Outlets

• 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools

• School Building Flushing - Links to Guidance 
  

Law and Regulations

• House Bill 270 (May 2017) 

• House Bill 1253 (May 2019)

• ​​House Bill 636​ (May 2021)
  

• Regulations

• Public Comments and Responses

School IDs

• Public School Construction (PSC) #s. (NOTE: To find the PSC # of your school, hover over "Facilities & Maintenance" from the menu bar and select "Facility Inventory". Then select "Public Record Access" and use the search tool to find your school.

• Nonpublic School IDs. Click on the county in which your school is located. Schools are listed alphabetically with the corresponding ID number.

• Church Exempt School IDs

• List of Approved Montessori Schools

Other Information

• Health Effects of Lead

• Fact Sheet: Lead in Drinking Water Coolers - Models of water coolers with lead-lined tanks and/or other lead components (2 pages)

• List of County Health Department Contacts

Contact Information

Questions? Call 410-537-3729 or email reporting.leadschoolwater@maryland.gov

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