NEWS: GDOE Officials Consult with Guam EPA Over Lead Water Analysis

OCTOBER 3, 2023 – (TIYAN, GUAM) – On October 2, 2023, officials from the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) met with the Guam Environmental Protection Agency (Guam EPA) Safe Drinking Water Program (SDW) for consultation over GDOE’s recent lead water analysis. The analysis revealed that two (2) water samples taken from one (1) tap at Juan M. Guerrero Elementary School and one (1) tap at Machananao Elementary School were in exceedance of US EPA’s action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb) for lead concentration in water in a public water system.

Guam EPA has provided GDOE with a guidance manual produced by the US EPA which contains recommendations on how to address lead found in drinking water in schools and childcare facilities through training, testing, and taking action. Guam EPA has directed GDOE’s attention to recommended immediate, short-term, and permanent actions that should be taken in response to the sampling results.

Following the meeting, Guam EPA SDW program personnel also visited both elementary schools at the request of GDOE to perform assessments and to make preliminary evaluations to assist school officials with determining the likeliest sources of lead contributing to levels above 15 ppb in their samples.

During Guam EPA’s visit to the affected schools, Agency SDW personnel inspected sink fixtures for lead-free certification compliance and observed that copper piping is used to supply water to taps which sampled above US EPA’s action level. Agency SDW personnel  were unable to verify lead-free certification for some fittings such as angle valves at both schools, and one other faucet at Juan M. Guerrero Elementary School.

Typically, lead in water occurs through corrosion of plumbing components that contain lead. Plumbing components include products like pipes, solder, flux, faucet fixtures, fittings, joints, and valves. When water comes into contact with plumbing components, corrosion may occur, depending on the specific characteristics of the water itself. Older buildings, particularly those constructed through 1990 are more likely to have leaded materials in their plumbing systems and may feature copper pipes with leaded interior solder. 

“While two of GDOE’s sample results exceeded US EPA’s action level, it is not indicative of GDOE’s overall drinking water quality at every school and does not represent a violation provided that appropriate actions are taken. We are confident that the department will take our recommendations seriously by performing the actions in the guidance manual to reduce the risk of lead exposure at their schools,” said Guam EPA Administrator Michelle C.R. Lastimoza. “Lead is a toxic metal and prolonged exposure to lead can cause adverse health effects at any level – particularly in school-aged children.”

“GDOE is steadfast in its commitment to safe and healthy school environments for our students. GDOE thanks the Guam Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Guam Waterworks Authority (GWA), and the Water and Environmental Research Institute (WERI) of the Western Pacific at the University of Guam for their assistance as we move forward to address this challenge at two of our school sites,” said Superintendent of Education Dr. K. Erik Swanson. “GDOE is confident that the guidance provided by Guam EPA will ensure that the department will continue to take the proper measures to ensure quality water sources at its school sites.”

Guam EPA’s SDW Program administers the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), including the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) which implements the EPA’s standards for lead. Based on extensive sampling records, water supplied by the Guam Waterworks Authority complies with this rule and does not require corrosion control treatment to prevent the leaching of lead from typical building plumbing systems found in Guam.

In addition to the SDWA and LCR, Guam EPA administers rules specific to the island which require verification of lead-free certification for all plumbing products installed in new buildings, and regular inspection of hardware and plumbing supply stores to ensure only certified products are being sold to the public. Guam EPA also works with the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency to train inspectors to identify non-certified products upon importation into the island.

To view the US EPA guidance manual provided to GDOE, visit: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-07/epa-3ts-guidance-document-english.pdf

To learn more about what you can do to safeguard against lead in water, visit: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water