CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NBC Charlotte is digging through new results from lead and copper testing at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS).
The Defenders learned CMS has now completed water testing at Olympic High School and Myers Park High School. The latest results come as part of the district’s second round of testing.
CMS said one of the high schools came back clear, but the other did not, and they’ve taken action.
The results showed elevated levels of lead and copper at multiple locations at Myers Park High School.
According to CMS, the kitchen sink at the football field visitor concession had lead levels at 22.6 parts per billion, which is above the state standard of 15 parts per billion. The water cooler at the auditorium backstage was nearly ten times the drinking water standard at 140 parts per billion.
“We just wanted to be proactive and step forward,” CMS superintendent Dr. Clayton Wilcox previously said.
Two other locations at Myers Park tested high for copper. A water cooler in the hallway was nearly double the state standards. A water cooler in the cafeteria was more than double the drinking water standard.
CMS did not start posting water testing results online until the Defenders began asking questions.
“I would rather be beat up for that than to not have done it,” Dr. Wilcox said.
NBC Charlotte also talked to Brian Kasher with the Coalition for Safe and Healthier Schools.
“What the coalition is working towards is getting timely, complete, and thorough information that is meaningful to parents on a very quick turnaround basis,” Kasher previously said.
CMS said all four water fixtures at Myers Park High School have been taken out of service. The district said it also did lead and copper testing at Olympic High School but found no issues there.
CMS said the results for central administration buildings are expected soon, which will complete the second round of testing.