
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 12, 1994                   TAG: 9403120125
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: joel turner
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

LEAD IN DRINKING WATER NO HEALTH RISK, SCHOOLS SAY

The drinking water at three Roanoke County schools has higher levels of lead than recommended by federal and state regulations, but school administrators said Friday there is no health risk.

Tests have shown high levels of lead in the water at Northside Junior High, Cave Spring Elementary and Mount Pleasant Elementary.

Homer Duff, director of facilities and operations for county schools, said the lead is coming from the pipes, not the wells at the three schools.

"The wells are OK," Duff said. "There is no problem with them. The lead shows up after the water stands in the pipe."

There is nothing to be alarmed about, he said, adding that school officials have consulted with health experts.

School officials are using chemicals to coat the pipes, Duff said. He said he hopes the problem can be corrected in the next month.

Officials have distributed information about the problem to students to show their parents.

The county has 14 schools with wells as the water supply. Tests have found no high level of lead at the other schools, Duff said.

by CNB