Water Testing

As part of the state’s efforts to protect the health of all children, a new law (RCW 43.70.830 and RCW 28A.210.410) was enacted in 2021. This law addresses concerns about lead in school drinking water as part of a broader effort to reduce children’s overall exposure to lead in the environment. Once the law was passed, the state legislature directed the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) to create protocols and procedures for testing school drinking water.

The law requires school drinking water to be tested every five years for lead in all public schools with buildings built or plumbing replaced before 2016. Testing for the presence and level of lead in drinking water must be conducted by the DOH or a school contractor before June 30, 2026. To meet this requirement, the Monroe School District arranged testing with the DOH in the spring of 2023 for those schools that required testing.

Most recent test results:

Chain Lake Elementary

April 2023 (initial testing)
Notification to Families & Staff
September 2023 (Post-remediation) & Follow-up Letter

Frank Wagner Elementary

May 2023 (initial testing)
Notification to Families & Staff
September 2023 (post remediation)
March 2024 (post remediation)
Additional remediation efforts in progress. DOH will retest once remediation efforts are complete.