Superintendent Chris Howell told the RSU 14 board on Oct. 15 that a drinking fountain at Jordan Small Middle School tested at an elevated lead level and that the district had closed the fixture and notified parents.

How it unfolded: Howell said the district conducts required lead testing of public drinking water supplies on a three-year cadence and that yesterday officials were notified of an elevated reading for a fountain located in a seldom-used area of the building near the locker rooms. He said the rest of the building’s fixtures tested at “0 parts for lead.”

Steps taken: The district sent letters to Jordan Small parents and the Raymond community and closed the specific drinking fountain “early this morning” after receiving the results. Howell said the team will draw a secondary test sample the following day and send it to the lab for confirmation.

Possible causes and context: Howell said the fountain sits in a portion of the building renovated in 1988; while the fixture itself is a relatively new installation and was manufactured after lead-free solder requirements, the surrounding plumbing may predate lead-free standards. He said the elevated result could be an anomaly in the test or an issue with the fixture itself.

PFAS status and related facilities work: Howell also reported on PFAS remediation at a building across the street; that building continues to test at acceptable state levels, and the district remains on a waiting list for well-closure work related to removing an old 900-foot well using polymer and crushed rock. Howell said the building where the elevated lead reading occurred has “always tested a 0 for PFAS.”

What officials said they will do next: The district will notify the public of further test results and keep the board informed. Howell indicated that closure of the single water source and prompt retesting were the immediate responses.

All quotes are taken verbatim from the meeting transcript and attributed to participants listed by name in the transcript.