TTI attended the NJDOE/NJDEP partnered training session on Lead Sampling in School Facilities this week. The deadline to have your schools tested for lead in water is quickly approaching (July 2017) and the new regulation requires a plan to be developed prior to any sample collection. This plan requires a large amount time and effort in addition to logistics and reporting. If you have not yet started its time, as it is anticipated that the certified laboratories will start to reach capacity as we get closer to the deadline. TTI has been servicing schools throughout the Delaware Valley for decades and we are well in tune with school districts and their requirements.
Some of the highlights from the NJDOE/NJDEP training session are discussed below:
- All schools must comply with the regulation even if you have your own water well on site. Even if you have a building that does not have any identifiable drinking water locations you must still go thru the process and complete the required paperwork.
- Soda machines that dispense water must be included in sampling program.
- Make sure you turn off your motion sensor prior to the proposed sample collection day to prevent the tap from turning on prior to first draw sample collection.
- Some taps or locations run a combination hot/cold water blend. Make sure the hot water is turned off.
- A field blank is required for each day and or each building location. So if it takes 2 or more events to complete a building, each day of sample collection requires a field blank.
- The order of the sample collection should be planned prior to the start. Sample collection should start closest to the main entrance and work toward the end of the run.
- You should also sample the source closest to the main even if it not a drinking water source. As an example; a slop sink in the boiler room is the closest source to the main, it needs to be sampled.
- Ice machines, snack shacks, taps where the athletics or after school programs fill their water jugs/bottles must be included.
- The reportable and corrective action level is any result above 15.4 ug/l because of rounding. So if you have a result of 15.5 ug/l this is an exceedance and corrective action must occur at that location.
TTI is currently assisting several districts in completing the planning and performing the sample collection. TTI currently maintains the Middlesex Educational Services Commission ESCNJ Cooperative Service contract for Water Testing Services #ESCNJ 15/16-73.
For more information, contact Tim Popp, Vice President of Consulting at timp@ttienv.com or 856-840-8800 ext. 24.