An elementary school in Highland Park has become the latest to find elevated levels of lead in drinking water.
Highland Park Board of Education HIGHLAND PARK -- The Highland Park Board of Education plans to offer free lead testing to parents whose children were in an elementary school classroom that tested elevated levels of lead to a single drinking fountain.
The borough has become the latest to find elevated levels of lead in a school drinking source.
School Superintendent Scott Taylor issued a letter to all parents in the school district last week informing them that of 57 drinking sites tested, "one fountain in a classroom at Irving School was found to have higher than normal lead levels," he wrote.
The test showed water contained 89.6 parts per billion -- nearly six times the federal limit of 15 parts per billion.
But the school district says it's taking the matter seriously and implementing proactive measures like contacting every parent and guardian of every child whose classes were held in the one affected classroom.
In another letter issued to parents, Taylor said the school district was working with the Middlesex County Board of Health to provide free lead tests to the families of children currently taking classes in the room and to the families of children who previously had classes in the room.
Taylor told parents that he would "be providing more detailed information about this program very soon."
The lead tests were conducted in late April.
"This fountain was immediately removed from service and will not be put back in use until I am assured that the fountain is safe for our children," Taylor wrote.
The full testing results can be viewed here.
More information about the school district's water testing can be found on the district's website at www.hpschools.net.
Earlier this month, an elementary school in New Brunswick tested elevated lead levels of more than 12 times the federal limit, according to a previous report.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.