The following message was sent to the Sidwell Friends Lower School community on May 10, 2024.

ACCESS FULL RESULTS

Dear Lower School Parents,

I’m writing to inform you that bi-annual water-quality testing conducted in late April at the Lower School campus indicated elevated levels of lead in four drinking fountains and one bathroom sink. Lead concentration levels at those locations ranged from 5.6 parts per billion (ppb) to 9.7 ppb. These levels exceeded the State of Maryland public drinking water standard of 5 ppb. For reference, the federal standard is 20 ppb.

One exterior hose faucet also tested at an elevated level.

Water from all 123 other indoor and outdoor fixtures at the Lower School complied with Maryland standards.

After receiving the test results, the School immediately restricted drinking access to the water sources in question:

1. Groome Building, Room 109 drinking fountain attachment to sink
2. Groome Building, Room 205 drinking fountain attachment to sink
3. Groome Building, Room 207 drinking fountain attachment to sink
4. Groome Building, Room 208 drinking fountain attachment to sink
5. Meeting House, bottom floor, left bathroom sink

It is important to note that students typically do not use these water sources for drinking. Instead, they refill their water bottles at one of the water bottle refilling stations.

As a next step, we will determine the source of the lead contamination, take the necessary remediation steps, and re-test the water before putting those sources back into use. This work will happen this summer.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at friedsonr@sidwell.edu. 

In friendship,
Russ Friedson
Assistant Head of School for Finance & Operations