Lead in water concerns Victoria school district

Some Greater Victoria schools will be getting new filtered water fountains because of concerns about lead in the water.

Informal tests conducted by district staffearlier this spring in District 61 schools showed elevated levels of lead, before flushing pipes in some casesand after flushing in others.

"Those tests came back with a few concerns," Mark Walsh, secretary treasurer for School District 61, told All Points West host Robyn Burns.

"The numbers are not way out of whack in the vast majority [of cases], even where the concerns sit, so that's heartening. But, of course, anything over acceptable levels is not acceptable."

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In a press release, District 61 called the tests "very preliminary," and saidfurther tests would be done by a third party.

Walsh says for the last few school days of the year, problem fountains will be flushed three times a day as opposed to the usual once a day.

However, he says this will not be a long-term solution, and district staff are recommending the board spend some of the money returned to the district by the provincial government on new water fountains.

The cost for a new fountain with modern filtration can be approximately $3,000 per unit.

Read thelist of Greater Victoria schools with water concerns

With files from CBC Radio One's All Points West

To hear the full story, click the audio labelled:Lead in water flagged as concern at 23 Greater Victoria schools