Drinking Water Quality Program

Our Commitment to Safe & Healthy Drinking Water

The health and safety of our students, staff, and school community is a top priority for Pasco School District (PSD). Since 2016, PSD has voluntarily conducted drinking water testing to ensure our facilities provide safe, clean water for everyone in our schools. This commitment aligns with state and federal guidelines to minimize lead exposure and protect public health.

Our Testing Program

Testing is essential to identify drinking water outlets that may contribute to lead exposure, particularly in older or infrequently used fixtures. Through testing, potential sources of lead are identified, and appropriate actions—such as shutting off or replacing fixtures—are taken to reduce exposure.

2016 Voluntary Testing: PSD began voluntarily testing drinking water in 2016, following the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines, which at that time recommend taking action if lead levels in drinking water exceed 15 parts per billion (ppb).

2021 State Requirements: In 2021, Washington State implemented new requirements for all K–12 public schools, requiring all drinking water fixtures in schools built, or with plumbing replaced, before 2016 be tested for lead by June 30, 2026, with retesting at least once every five years thereafter. These regulations also introduced a more protective standard, requiring action for any water fixture testing above 5 ppb. While these action levels are not direct measures of health effects, they signal the need to reduce lead concentrations in drinking water.

2023-2024 School Year: PSD partnered with the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) to complete testing at all elementary schools built, or with plumbing replaced, before 2016 to comply with the new state standards.

2024-2025 School Year: PSD expanded testing to all secondary schools meeting the same criteria in collaboration with DOH.

DOH laboratories play a vital role in ensuring reliable water quality testing results for schools across the state. However, these laboratories can experience significant wait times due to high demand. To ensure timely results, especially when rapid retesting is needed, PSD may contract with other state-accredited laboratories. This approach helps the district promptly address any concerns and continue providing safe drinking water for our students and staff.

Ongoing Efforts

Once initial testing and remediation under the updated requirements are complete, PSD is committed to maintaining a proactive retesting schedule. Schools built or renovated before 2016 will be tested at least once every five years. This regular schedule ensures any emerging issues are promptly identified and addressed, safeguarding the quality of drinking water across the district.

Results & Action Plans

Angelou Elementary School

2023-2024 Sampling Event

2016-2017 Sampling Event

2016 Drinking Water Report & Test Results

^{Note: The 2016–17 sampling event was voluntary and conducted following EPA guidance in place at the time which recommended taking action if lead levels in drinking water exceeded 15 ppb. The State’s current school drinking water rules were not yet in effect and should not be used to interpret these results. Please refer to the 2024–25 information above for current testing and compliance information.}