2 BPS Facility Workers Placed On Leave After Lead Found In Drinking Water

BOSTON (CBS) -- Two workers in the Boston Public Schools Facility Department have been placed on administrative leave after water at drinking fountains in some area schools were found to contain high levels of lead.

"We found out that 34 schools do not have a problem, the water is working perfectly in those schools," Walsh said. "We found 4 school had some type of level of lead, and then we found another 5, so we have a total of 9 schools right now."

Lead contaminated water fountains ran for three weeks at Mather Elementary in Dorchester because of what officials chalked up to miscommunication between the school's facility department and contractors.

"That's unacceptable, and that's why I asked Water and Sewer to step in here and take over this case and look at this issue," Walsh said.

If we can't rely on outside contracting then there's a problem here," he said.

The affected schools have replaced water fountains with bottled water.

Boston Public Schools Superintendent Tommy Chang said other area schools are safe.

"We are confident that all active water fountains meet state standards and are fine for students and faculty use," Chang said in a public statement Thursday. "All active water fountains were tested in April, and the results have been triple verified by Boston Public Schools, Boston Water & Sewer Commission and a third-party contractor."

The origin of the lead found in the water is unclear, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said Thursday.

Sixty percent of Boston schools were built before World War II, but what is causing the contamination is still unknown.

"Parents should be concerned, I'm not going to say 'no,' but they should know that we're on top of the issue," Walsh said.

The two workers were placed on leave pending an investigation.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Doug Cope reports