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Water Testing

July 2, 2026 (Via SWSD Navigator)

Dear families and staff of Middle and High School, 

As of 2021, Washington state law (RCW 28A.210.410 and RCW 43.70.830) requires drinking water in all K–12 public schools built, or with all plumbing replaced, before 2016, be tested for lead. The purpose of lead testing is to identify drinking water outlets that are potential sources of lead exposure. It is natural for lead to accumulate in older or infrequently used drinking water outlets. These outlets are identified through testing so they can be shut off or replaced to reduce exposure to lead from school drinking water. South Whidbey School District received the results of the testing on May 28, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. 

What We’ve Learned

On April 18, 2026, four (4) drinking water outlets at South Whidbey Middle and High School were sampled. Water from outlets used for drinking or food preparation were tested for lead by a state-accredited laboratory. Test results show three (3) outlets with elevated lead levels. Per RCW 28A.210.410, elevated lead level means a lead concentration in drinking water that exceeds five parts per billion (ppb).

Section

Location

Results

Status

Main Building

Hallway 137 (fountain)

8 ppb

+3 over

Main Building

Hallway 137 (fountain)

7 ppb

+2 over

Main Building

Hallway 5 (fountain)

6 ppb

+1 over

Main Building

Room 113 (fountain)

1 ppb

within

Main Building

Room 103 (spray)

27 ppb

+21

 

What We Are Doing

The health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority. We are committed to transparent communication, timely action, and full compliance with applicable laws and regulations. We have acted quickly to reduce exposure at school while we complete full remediation.  The South Whidbey School District has taken or will take the following action:

  • Immediately upon receiving test results, water to outlets with elevated lead levels was shut off or made inaccessible for drinking.
  • Since this was located in the 1980’s section of the building, students and staff were directed to use the approved drinking foundations within the school building until the three (3) identified drinking water outlets no longer have elevated lead levels. 
  • We are working closely with the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) to develop a remediation action plan for reducing lead levels in drinking water. 

Remediation Action Plan

We are working to prepare and implement a comprehensive remediation action plan and will keep the school community informed as we progress.  The remediation action plan currently includes following:  

Phase 1: Coordination & Planning (June)
  • Contractor Alignment: Engaged active summer bond construction contractors to coordinate upcoming infrastructure adjustments and project timelines.
Phase 2: Assessment & Remediation Strategy (June – July)
  • Comprehensive Diagnostics: Formulated a deep-remediation plan, expanding water testing protocols beyond standard fixtures to isolate root systemic issues.
  • Adaptive Strategy: Developed a responsive action plan, dictating targeted fixture replacements and structural interventions dictated by diagnostic data.
Phase 3: Validation & System Restoration (August)
  • Post-Remediation Verification: Scheduled final validation testing with the Department of Health to secure formal confirmation that all metrics meet safety standards.
  • School Readiness: Finalized successful system clearance to safely restore water service ahead of the first day of school.

Why Lead is a Concern

Children are exposed to lead from a variety of environmental sources. Each exposure contributes to the amount of lead in a child’s body. Some common exposure sources include:

  • Dust from old, deteriorating lead paint.
  • Contaminated soil.
  • Lead dust tracked into the home from external sources, such as parents and regular visitors who work in certain industries where lead is present.

While the likelihood of school drinking water alone causing an elevated blood lead level is very low, it is important to reduce exposure from every source as much as possible. Children six years old and younger are the most susceptible to the effects of lead. Their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults, and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. Even at very low levels of exposure, children may experience effects, such as lower IQ levels, reduced attention span, hyperactivity, poor classroom performance, or other harmful physical and behavioral effects. Children over the age of eight are less susceptible to the impacts of lead exposure. Children who have been exposed to lead may not look or act sick. The best way to tell if a child has been exposed is with a blood lead test.

Where to Learn More

Lead test results are available at the district office and on our website at https://www.sw.wednet.edu/our-district/district-office/operations/maintenance-facilities/water-testing. For more information about water quality in our schools, please contact Paul Field, Executive Director of Business and Operations, at pfield@sw.wednet.edu or (360)221-6100. Additional information about lead exposure, as well as how to prevent lead exposure, is available at doh.wa.gov/lead. You can also reach out to the DOH Childhood Blood Lead Program at 800-909-9898 or lead@doh.wa.gov for more information. If you are concerned that your child has been exposed to lead for any reason, ask your healthcare provider about having them tested for lead.

Click here to read the Department of Health Water Testing Report