Testing for Lead in Drinking Water

Maryland Law - Testing Drinking Water 

Under Maryland law*, all public, charter, and nonpublic schools, serving students in Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12, that receive drinking water from a public utility are required to periodically test all their drinking water outlets for the presence of lead in the water on a State-established three-year cycle, unless a waiver† from future testing has been granted.  The testing is coordinated by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) in consultation with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).  To determine whether your school is subject to requirements under Maryland law*, please refer to MDE’s flowchart.  The law does NOT apply to schools that have their own individual wells (i.e., non-transient non-community water systems) and are currently testing for lead in the drinking water under the federal Lead and Copper Rule (LCR).  

EPA's Lead and Copper Rule

Lead and copper enter drinking water primarily through plumbing materials. Exposure to lead and copper may cause health problems ranging from stomach distress to brain damage.

In 1991, EPA published a regulation to control lead and copper in drinking water. This regulation is known as the Lead and Copper Rule (also referred to as the LCR). Since 1991 the LCR has undergone various revisions, see the Rule History section below. The treatment technique for the rule requires systems to monitor drinking water at customer taps. If lead concentrations exceed an action level of 5 ppb or copper concentrations exceed an action level of 1.3 ppm in more than 10% of customer taps sampled, the system must undertake a number of additional actions to control corrosion. If the action level for lead is exceeded, the system must also inform the public about steps they should take to protect their health and may have to replace lead service lines under their control.

Important Note Regarding the New Lead Action Level (AL) As of June 1, 2021, the Action Level (AL) for lead in drinking water in schools will be lowered from 20 ppb to 5 ppb. Effective June 1, 2021, any outlets with first-draw sample results exceeding the AL of 5 ppb (i.e., greater than or equal to 5.5 ppb), regardless of when the samples were collected, are subject to the same required actions as stipulated in the regulations for the previous AL of 20 ppb. These actions include closing access to the outlets, collecting flush samples, notifying parents/guardians of currently-enrolled students and current faculty/staff, and taking actions to remediate the outlets. 

Maryland House Bill 636 (School Buildings - Drinking Water Outlets)

Testing Results- 

Public Water Supply Sites:

Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary - 12/19/24

Esperanza Middle School - 1/3/25

Evergreen Elementary School - 1/2/25

Green Holly Elementary School - 1/3/25

Greenview Knolls Elementary School - 12/11/24

Great Mills High School - 1/13/25

George Washington Carver Elementary School - 12/11/24

Leonardtown Elementary School - 12/13/24

Lexington Park Elementary School - 1/3/25

Park Hall Elementary School - 1/2/25

Town Creek Elementary School - 1/3/25

Virtual Academy - 12/11/24

Well Sites:

Benjamin Banneker Early Childhood Center - 

Benjamin Banneker Elementary School

Chopticon High School - 

Dynard Elementary School - 

Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center - 

Elms Environmental Center - 

Fairlead Academy - 

Hollywood Elementary School - 

Leonardtown High School - 

Lettie Marshall Dent Elementary School - 

Leonardtown Middle School - 

Margaret Brent Middle School - 

Mechanicsville Elementary School - 

Oakville Elementary School - 

Piney Point Elementary School - 

Ridge Elementary School - 

Spring Ridge Middle School - 

White Marsh Elementary School - 

Virtual Academy -