Water Quality Testing
The Northshore School District began testing its drinking water in 2004 and has continued to do so about every five years, as recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency. The most current testing of lead and copper was completed in June 2023. Results will be posted as data is received.
We believe it is important to maintain a regular testing schedule as it is possible for water lines to develop issues over time. Our regular testing ensures we catch new issues in water quality.
2020 Water Quality Testing Update
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic the Department of Health suspended our 2020 drinking water quality testing program. Prior to the COVID-19 closure we completed water quality testing at 12 of our Elementary schools and have posted those results here. All fixtures testing over 9 ppb have been repaired or replaced and will be retested when testing resumes later this spring. Drinking water quality will be tested at all school sites.
How We Test
The District is working with the Washington State Department of Health for our Elementary School water quality testing and with PBS Environmental & Engineering for our Middle and High Schools. PBS Environmental & Engineering is an Environmental consultant company who designs, performs and monitors water quality testing for a number of districts in the region. Cold water samples were collected from every tap used by students for drinking or used to prepare food for students. These were “first draw” samples, in which the water is allowed to sit in the plumbing system for eight to eighteen hours before the sample is collected. Samples were analyzed by our Public Health Laboratory using EPA method 200.8.
During the last full water quality testing:
- Staff collected 862 water samples from 788 sampling sites at 35 building locations over a period of about six months following the EPA water collection process and criteria.
- Water sources included drinking fountains, food prep sinks. ice makers, and other known fountains or sinks used as a drinking source.
- Water sources were collected and tested at two main points: first draw is at the fixture and the second draw is a “flush test” that checks levels in the water lines.
- Each water sample was assigned a unique identification number that correlates to a master drawing. PBS Environmental oversees a chain-of-custody documentation that is cross-matched with the drawings and water container labels before being delivered (within 24 hours) to the independent testing company.
Contact
Bruce Skowyra
Director of Support Services
425-408-7803
bskowyra@nsd.org