The Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) welcomed four new members at its quarterly meeting on April 25. The Council brings together representatives from across the city to hear about the progress of the School District in maintaining environmental goals. Hydration stations and lead-in-water testing topped the agenda, and District Sustainability Manager Megan Garner provided a thorough overview of the District’s efforts to be sure there is plenty of healthy drinking water available to students and staff in all our buildings.

The District’s goal is to have 1 hydration station per every 100 students. So far, 1,355 hydration stations have been installed – which includes at least three in every student-occupied District building. Several more have been delivered and are awaiting installation and coordination with plumbing, electrical and environmental personnel. There will need to be about 800 more installed to reach the 1 to 100 goal. The District has applied for a nearly $5 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to help cover costs and expedite the project.

The District is in the midst of the required five-year cycle for sampling lead in water in each of our buildings. The city’s standard of 10 parts per billion of lead in water is even more rigorous than the federal EPA standard. One part per billion is the equivalent of one drop in a 10,000-gallon pool.

Steve Link, Director of the Office of Environmental Management and Services, also updated the EAC members on the District’s new agreement with TetraTech to manage the District’s asbestos inspections and the related data. At the end of the meeting, the EAC was provided handouts with an update on testing and hydration stations to share with their communities. More information about the EAC meeting can be found here. The EAC’s next meeting is July 25.