The health and safety of all students and staff is the top priority for DeKalb County School District. Recent events have brought national attention to water quality issues. Though we have absolutely no evidence of water quality issues in any school or building, we want to ensure that our water is safe for consumption. With this in mind, we are proactively testing the drinking water in each of our 150 schools, centers, and facilities. As directed by Superintendent Dr. R. Stephen Green and the DeKalb County Board of Education, testing will begin on September 20, 2016 and be completed by the summer of 2017.

While all schools and facilities will be tested, the initial schools were chosen based upon the age of students (with priority given to schools with pre-K programs). Testing will be conducted by Atlanta Environmental Management, Inc. (AEM), a full-service, Atlanta-based environmental consulting and engineering firm. Drinking water sources will be sampled twice to ensure compliance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines for schools. If any sample indicates a presence of lead that exceeds EPA action levels, we will immediately stop using water from that source, then repair or remove the problem. Parents and employees will receive testing results in letters and on this site. Please review the Program Details below, as well as the information in the tabs to the left: Superintendent’s Message, Resources, and FAQ. This site will be updated regularly, so please visit frequently for up-to-the-moment results and information. You may also contact us at [iphorm_popup id=”23″ name=”Lead Testing Feedback”]DCSD_Communications@dekalbschoolsga.org.[/iphorm_popup] We look forward to keeping you informed every step of the way as we ensure the health and safety of our students and staff.

Program Details

Frequently Asked Questions

In light of recent national events regarding water quality, the DCSD announced a district-wide water-testing program as a precaution to ensure the drinking water within its schools is safe for all students and employees.

Testing will begin September 20, 2016, and will be completed by the summer of 2017.

All schools will be tested. The initial schools were chosen based upon the age of students (with priority given to schools with pre-K programs) and the age of the facility.

Testing of water source outlets require:
  • All school water sources be unused for at least 8 hours prior to testing
  • If school has been inactive for more than 3 days, all potable water outlets are to be flushed completely the day prior to testing
  • One (1) 250mL sample will be collected from the County water distribution main (service meter)
  • One (1) 250mL “first draw sample” will be collected from each cold water outlet
  • After the “first draw sample” has been collected, a second 250mL sample will be collected after a 30 second flush samples will be collected at Pre-K and K classroom, all drinking fountains, kitchens, teacher lounges, ice machines, and athletic fields

Samples are sent to an State-Accredited Water Testing Laboratory daily in accordance with U.S. EPA Method 200.8, with an estimated turnaround time of 10 business days

Atlanta Environmental Management, Inc. (AEM) will conduct the testing. AEM is a full-service, Atlanta-based environmental consulting and engineering firm founded in 1988. AEM has a highly qualified, multi-disciplined staff in the areas of engineering, environment science, geology/hydrogeology, chemistry, risk assessment, and regulatory affairs.

  • Facilities with test results below EPA’s 15 ppb action level: parents and
    employees will receive a formal notification letter conveying this information.
  • Facilities with test results above EPA’s 15 ppb action level: parents and employees will receive a letter immediately after DCSD receives the test results. The letter will contain specific information regarding any necessary remediation plans as appropriate.
  • Water Testing Program results will be updated regularly on the District website.

  • Facilities with test results below EPA’s 15 ppb action level: parents and
    employees will receive a formal notification letter conveying this information.
  • Facilities with test results above EPA’s 15 ppb action level: parents and employees will receive a letter immediately after DCSD receives the test results. The letter will contain specific information regarding any necessary remediation plans as appropriate.
  • Water Testing Program results will be updated regularly on the District website.

Remediation Trigger: Any service outlet that exceeds EPA’s lead action
level of 15 ppb will be immediately shut down or removed from service and additional sampling/investigation will be initiated.

Potential Interim Remedies: Shut down or remove problem outlets from student and employee use. Provide bottled drinking water or mobile potable water tanks (if facility-wide or multiple problem outlets remediation is necessary).

Potential Permanent Remedies:

  • Replace piping and/or fixtures contributing to lead in
    drinking water
  • Reconfigure plumbing to bypass lead sources
  • Install and maintain reverse osmosis units (i.e. filters or point of use devices) at affected outlets
  • Find alternate grounding for electrical wires that are grounded to water pipes
  • Install and operate automatic flushing systems

  • Drinking water in DeKalb County comes primarily from the Chattahoochee River.
  • Lead enters drinking water when service pipes containing lead corrode. This is most commonly associated with chrome-plated brass faucets or fixtures connected with lead solder leaching into the water.
  • The amount of lead in water depends on the temperature of the water, how long the water sits in the pipes, the acidity, and the types of minerals found in the water.
  • Buildings built before 1986 may pose a greater risk because lead was permitted to be used as a building material before 1986.
  • Per EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule (LCR), EPA’s action level for lead in water is set at 15 parts per billion (ppb).

Dr. S. Elizabeth Ford, Director and CEO of the DeKalb County Board of Health, and Lee May, Interim CEO of DeKalb County Government, are collaborating with the District in the lead in water testing program.

We recommend you discuss this with your child’s pediatrician. If your child does not have a pediatrician, your child can be evaluated and/or tested at the following DeKalb County Board of Health locations:
  • Clifton Springs: 3110 Clifton Springs Road Decatur, GA 30034, 404.244.2200
  • East DeKalb Health Center: 2277 S. Stone Mountain-Lithonia Road Lithonia, GA 30058, 770.484.2600
  • North DeKalb Health Center: 3807 Clairmont Rd., NE Chamblee, GA 30341, 770.454.1144
  • Richardson Health Center: 445 Winn Way Decatur, GA 30030, 404.294.3700
  • T.O. Vinson Health Center: 440 Winn Way Decatur, GA 30030, 404.294.3762