SAN DIEGO UNIFIEDSCHOOL DISTRICT

Districtwide Water Sampling

Board of EducationApril 25, 2017

Water Sampling Overview

The lead sampling effort is a partnership between San Diego Unified and City of San Diego, made possible by California permit action.

District staff submitted the request to the city for district-wide water sampling in February 2017.

The City of San Diego has been a great partner and quickly agreed to an expedited sampling plan that began on April 4.

District schools and schools operating on district property will be sampled.

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Water Sampling Overview

City staff are working their way fromthe southeast corner of the district where

some of the oldest facilities are located,moving north and west. Five campuses are sampled daily on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Sampling must be done early in the morning prior to daily flushand first use. Sampling will be complete by mid-June.

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Water Flushing Protocol

To minimize risk of exposure to contaminants that might be in the water, the district Operations Division has implemented a districtwide water flushing protocol.

Each morning, all water outlets used for human consumption are to be flushed by school staff for one minute prior to first use.

On the morning of sampling, outlets scheduled for lead sampling will not be flushed until after sampling is complete. Those outlets will be secured the night before by school staff.

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Where else?

San Diego Unified submitted its formal request for sampling to the City on February 14.

Two days later, the San DiegoUnion-Tribune called for all local districts to request lead sampling bytheir water providers.

San Diego Unified will offer support and assistance to charter schools in the district and other districts.

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Water Sampling Progress

Information as of April 21, 2017 Lead action level is 15 parts per billion, set by the State Water

Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water

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# of Sampling Plans Submitted

to City

# of Schools Sampled

# of Schools With Results Below Action

Level

# of Schools With Results Above Action

Level

109 72 29 2

Emerson-Bandini Elementary / San Diego Cooperative Charter 2

Water quality issue at the Emerson campus of San Diego Cooperative 2 was reported to district staff on January 26.

District staff quickly secured the water at the Emerson campus and began providing bottled water to the campus.

Emerson campus was sampled by city for volatile organic compounds in Late February. Lead sampling took place in early March.

Physical Plant Operation staff identified the sources of the contaminants and implemented plumbing fixes. Re-testing by the city has confirmed that remediation was successful for both contaminants.

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Health Resources For Families

Parents in this district have various degrees of access to health resources.

Not all parents will have access to a doctor to discuss their child’s situation, nor will they be able to get a blood tests for lead levels.

District will take steps to ensure equitable access to health resources.

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Health Resources For Families

Steps the district will take:

◦ Coordinate with local community clinics and health agencies to host culturally sensitive and multi-language educational events.

◦ District staff will assist families so they can access health services Medi-Cal application assistance. Referrals to specific clinics that do blood testing for lead. Case management assistance for parents at select school sites and

Wellness Centers.

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Additional Resources for Parents

Communications Office has created a Water Sampling webpage: www.sandiegounified.org/watersampling

Webpage has background information on water sampling effort and daily flushing program.

Webpage has links to resources for parents: District Water Sampling Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), Division of Drinking FAQ, and San Diego County Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Page.

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Transparency

District is coordinating with each principal to keep parents updated about water sampling progress and results.

District is providing communications support to schools (e.g., template letters, SchoolMessenger assistance).

Website is frequently updated and new results are posted quickly.

District is providing regular updates to elected officials and local media.

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Transparency

District leaders and staff providing an updateto a delegation of elected

officials and city representatives.

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Transparency

Screenshot of district’sWater Sampling Resultswebpage.

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Next Steps

Sampling will continue through mid-June.

District is prepared to rapidly respond to any sampling results that indicate lead levels above the state’s action level.◦ District will quickly secure contaminated sinks, faucets and fixtures.◦ District will provide bottled water.◦ District will communicate results with parents.◦ District will investigate the source(s) of contamination and make the required fixes. ◦ City will re-sample to ensure the remedies have worked.

Estimated Costs: Hard to predict, but Emerson campus can serve as an example.◦ Cost for bottled water support and lead remediation is about $12,000.

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Questions?

Drew Rowlands, Chief Operations Officer

Dr. Howard Taras, District Physician

Andrew Sharp, Chief Information Officer

Samer Naji, Facilities Communications Liaison

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