MCPS Drinking Water Testing Program

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is committed to the safety of our students and staff. Since 2004, MCPS has implemented proactive measures and adhered to technical guidance provided by Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding school drinking water.

In May 2017, Governor Larry Hogan signed legislation requiring public and private schools to conduct periodic testing for the presence of lead in drinking water outlets. In response, drinking water in all MCPS schools was tested prior to June 15, 2018. MCPS continues testing on a three-year cycle.

The action level designated by both the EPA and the MDE was 20 parts per billion (ppb). In May 2019, the Montgomery County Council passed legislation that lowered the action level to 5 ppb.

In compliance with County regulations, drinking water outlets with sample results exceeding the action level are taken out of service. A remedial action plan developed based on analysis of sample results and outlet usage. Outlets will not be returned to service until post-remediation testing confirms sample results are below the action level.

Links Related to MCPS:

• Drinking Water Test Reports

• Lead Exposure Fact Sheets:

  • English - Lead Exposure Fact Sheet
  • Spanish - Hoja de información sobre la exposición al plomo
  • Chinese - 有關鉛暴露的情況說明書
  • French - Fiche d'informations sur l'exposition au plomb
  • Portuguese - Ficha Informativa sobre Exposição a Chumbo
  • Korean - 납 노출에 관한 자료표
  • Vietnamese - Tờ Thông tin về Phơi nhiễm Chất chì
  • Amharic - እርሳስ/ሊድ (Lead) ተጋላጭነት መግለጫ
    
    

• Water Safety Work Group

• Water Bottle Filling Station Project

Links to Click for More Information:

• Water Flushing Website  (available via MCPS network only)
• Montgomery County Council Legislation – Bill 2-19 Health - Lead in Drinking Water - Schools
• MDE Testing for Lead in Drinking Water - Public and Nonpublic Schools
• Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water (EPA website)
• Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Childcare Facilities (EPA website)
• Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention (CDC website)
• WSSC Water Quality Reports
• City of Rockville Drinking Water webpage
• Town of Poolesville Water Quality Reports
• Maryland Department of the Environment, School Building Flushing – Links to Guidance

Please note that this Web page contains links to pages that are outside MCPS. MCPS does not control the content or relevancy of those pages.

If you have questions, comments, or need more information about drinking water in MCPS facilities, please contact: 

Brian Mullikin, Environmental Team Leader
Office: 240-740-2324
Email: Brian_A_Mullikin@mcpsmd.org