Sequim schools awaiting results of water testing

While testing for levels of lead in the drinking water in Sequim schools continues, district superintendent Regan Nickels said most faucets tested have water safe to drink.

Each of Sequim’s schools have been or are now being tested by the Washington Department of Health and the district continues to get results.

A few faucets have produced results with water that is not potable and have been marked for handwashing only, she said.

“The percentage of places where we’ve had to address (the issue) is relatively low,” Nickels said.

As soon as results from all schools are back, Nickels said, she will present findings to Sequim School Board directors — that would likely happen in July or August — and staff would work with with Department of Health officials for any remediation.

Each school building has places students can fill bottles with drinkable water, she noted.

A voluntary test of water fixtures in Greywolf Elementary and Helen Haller Elementary in 2016 revealed excess lead in some of the schools’ sinks, though drinking fountains also were tested and did not contain excess lead.