Hello RGSD Ramily,

In 2022, the Missouri legislature passed the Get the Lead Out of School Drinking Water Act (RSMo 160.077). The law sets standards for lead concentrations in school drinking water.

It requires schools to sample, test, remediate and monitor potable drinking water outlets that are used (or potentially used) for drinking, food preparation, cooking or cleaning utensils.

Missouri American Water is required to provide drinking water at a standard limit of 30 micrograms per liter (ug/L) of lead in water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently has a lead drinking water standard limit of 15 micrograms per liter (ug/L) of lead in water. However, Missouri law requires that all Missouri schools must achieve a 5 ug/L limit of lead in water.

The Get the Lead Out of School Drinking Water Act calls for all Missouri public schools to conduct lead testing. The law specifies that all preschool through 12th-grade schools that receive state funding have until August 1, 2024 to complete testing at all drinking water outlets and food preparation outlets. RGSD is committed to protecting the health and safety of all scholars and staff. Therefore we have completed testing in all district buildings to ensure that we can initiate any necessary remediation actions as soon as possible.

Results of the findings must be communicated with families within seven (7) days of receiving the results. Results must also be posted on the district website and reported to the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS).

Upon receiving the results, each of these water sources was taken out of service by our district facilities team. At this time, we have already begun working with Merlot Plumbing to remediate each source needing attention.

Before being placed back in service, water from each source will be tested to ensure the issue has been resolved. We will communicate additional results after testing takes place.

Meanwhile, all students and staff continue to have access to a variety of water outlets that have met compliance, throughout the school.

If you have questions about a lead sample result at a specific outlet and actions taken, or if you have concerns, please email karl.scheidt@rgsd.k12.mo.us.

Results as reported are included here.

Riverview Gardens High School

RGSD is Proactive in Addressing the Get the Lead Out of School Drinking Water Act