With pending regulations set to enforce lead testing in drinking water after October 2024, Las Cruces Public Schools is taking proactive measures to enhance the safety of its students and staff. In collaboration with the New Mexico Department of Health, LCPS has chosen to initiate voluntary lead testing at all its educational facilities, beginning in the spring of 2024.
This initiative aims to identify and address any potential lead contamination issues within the district's schools. Testing will be conducted across all schools over the coming months, focusing on point-of-access areas such as faucets, fountains and water spigots. In the event a point of access exceeds the EPA-recommended limit of 15 parts per billion, LCPS maintenance personnel will promptly disconnect the source, replace any necessary components, and conduct re-testing before re-opening the source for drinking water.
By proactively undertaking lead testing, Las Cruces Public Schools continues its commitment to providing a safe and healthy environment for its students and staff. The following are recommendations from the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce exposure to lead found in drinking water:
Run your water to flush out lead. If water has not been used for several hours, run the cold-water tap until the water is noticeably cooler, before using it for drinking or cooking. This helps flush any water that may have lead leached from the plumbing.
Always use cold water for drinking, cooking, and preparing baby formula. Do not cook with or drink water from the hot water tap. Do not use hot water from the tap to make the formula.
Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead.
Identify if your plumbing fixtures contain lead and consider replacing them when appropriate.
Additional information from the New Mexico Environment Department can be found at https://www.env.nm.gov/drinking_water/lcrr/
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