Dear Polo R-VII Families and Staff, 

The Polo R-VII School District is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff.  In alignment with that commitment and in compliance with the new Missouri State Law, “Get the Lead Out of School Drinking Water Act”  we will be enlisting a professional laboratory to initiate and complete testing of our water in the spring of 2024 to allow for remediation prior to August 1, 2024.  Specifically, each possible drinking and food preparation source in our schools and buildings will be sampled and tested to determine if the lead concentration in the water was above the required action level of five parts per billion (5 ppb),which is equal to 5 micrograms per liter.  The 5 ppb level required by the state is below the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA’s) recommended action level of 15 ppb.

State law specifies that all schools who receive state funding have until August 1, 2024 to complete testing at all drinking water outlets and food preparation outlets. Please know the safety and health of our students and staff is our highest priority and we will work diligently to rectify any source that is out of compliance. 

Inovatia Laboratories conducted a Drinking Water Analysis for the Polo R- 7 School District.  The values reported are in conformance with internal and method quality control guidelines.  The report of the testing was released on July 3, 2024.  Our district has four water fountains (the South original  5th/6th hallway fountain [not the new bottle filler near the cafeteria on the North end of the hallway] and the 3 original small water fountains in front of the HS restrooms) that do not currently meet the requirements of the 5 ppb level of lead and will be remediated prior to the start of the 24-25 school year. As part of the remediation the fountains in question will entail removal and/or replacement of any necessary equipment and /or lines.  

INOVATIA Laboratories analysis results for the Polo R-7 School District

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Ross, Superintendent of Schools.

Inovatia Lab Water Testing Results Received 7/3/24

Lead is rarely found in source water like ground water or rivers.  Typically, lead in water is the result of corrosion, or the wearing away, of lead-containing materials in the water distribution system such as pipes and faucets.  SInce 1986, all plumbing materials must be “lead-free”.  The law currently allows plumbing material to be up to 0.25 percent lead to be labeled as “lead-free”.

While there are fewer amounts of lead used in newer water distribution systems, corrosion still occurs.  When water stands in lead pipes or plumbing systems contain lead for several hours or more, the lead will dissolve into the drinking water.  In such circumstances, the first water drawn from the tap in the morning typically contains the highest traces of lead.

Lead in drinking water, although rarely the sole cause of lead poisoning, can significantly increase a person’s total lead exposure.  The EPA estimates that drinking water can make up 20% or more of a person’s total exposure to lead.  According to the EPA (www.epa.gov) children of any age are susceptible to the effects of lead, with children under the age of 6 being most at risk.  While effects may vary in scope and severity, the EPA reports that lead might lead to behavior and learning problems, lower IQ, hyperactivity, slowed growth, hearing problems and anemia.  The Center of Disease Control (CDC) reports that the impact of lead exposure on childrens can be impacted by a variety of factors including age, nutrition, the source of exposure, length of time of the exposure, and other underlying health conditions.  Elevated levels of lead in women who are pregnant can also be harmful, possibly severely, to both babies and mothers.  Your physician or healthcare provider can provide additional information regarding the effects of lead exposure and, with one’s health history, whether testing for lead should be considered.