Parent says Mountain View water tests show lead above EPA action level; board asked for mitigation plan
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Summary
A parent told the Corvallis school board that December testing found eight classroom faucets at Mountain View above the EPA's 15 ppb action level and urged immediate mitigation, more frequent testing and transparent communication; the district said affected fixtures were taken out of service and staff will follow up with the testing report.
A Mountain View parent told the Corvallis School Board during public comment that recent water testing at Mountain View Elementary detected lead above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency action level and urged the district to develop an immediate mitigation plan and communicate results to families.
"Eight classroom drinking faucets were tested and were found to be above the EPA action level of 15 parts per billion for lead," said Michael Eller, who told the board the December 16 testing results were performed by Apex Laboratory and were shared with families on Jan. 6. Eller said lead levels in some fixtures rose from 8 ppb in 2023 to 32 ppb in December 2025.
Superintendent Ryan Noss confirmed the district has taken the affected fixtures out of service and that the testing contractor was Apex Laboratory. Board members asked staff to provide the testing report and to explain immediate steps to reduce exposure and long-term remediation timelines. "These fixtures have been taken out of service until they're remediated and retested," Eller said; the district acknowledged that follow-up communication to current and prospective families is needed as consolidation planning proceeds.
Why it matters: Lead exposure poses health risks especially to children; the parent urged more frequent testing than the district's current three-year cadence and a clear timeline for corrective action as Mountain View will receive additional students under consolidation plans.
Next steps: Board members asked staff to share the lab report and to outline the district's remediation plan, timeline and communications to families. Superintendent Noss said staff would follow up and present details to the board and families.