Kalispell schools plan for lead testing

Kalispell Public Schools recently outlined a tentative three-year schedule for testing drinking water for lead in its facilities to the school board in response to a parent’s concern raised last fall.

The scheduling coincides with work the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and the state Department of Public Health and Human Services are wrapping up in order to present for public comment regulations requiring schools test drinking water for lead.

Testing drinking water for lead is currently voluntary for Montana schools that get water from regulated public water systems, which are tested regularly.

The last time the district tested for lead was 12 years ago, also at a time of major construction projects.