September 20, 2018
Dear CMS families,
As part of our commitment to providing safe, healthy environments, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will continue the voluntary water testing that we began in the spring. We are being proactive to ensure that the water in our pipes, faucets and water fountains is clean and safe.
There are 35 schools in the second round of testing, which will begin Sept. 24 and conclude Nov. 14. Testing takes two days: one day to prepare, with tests the next day. AECOM, an environmental testing firm, will come to each school at the end of the day to flush the plumbing system, then return early the next morning before school opens to collect samples of water for testing. Samples will be taken from every faucet, spigot and water fountain accessible to students and staff.
The samples will be analyzed at a laboratory and we will share the results with our school families, staff and the community as soon as we receive them. We will share them in three ways: We will send out a telephone message to all of you. We'll also send out a letter that includes descriptions of locations tested in each school, results and actions taken. Finally, that letter will be posted on the CMS Water Quality Program page. Experts will be available to parents and staff in each school to review results and explain any actions taken.
The 35 sites chosen for the second round of testing, like those in the first round, were all built in 1989 or earlier. The federal Environmental Protection Agency recommends testing older buildings first, so that is what we're doing. Our goal is to continue testing until every school has been evaluated.
We don't expect to find significant water-quality issues affecting entire schools but we want to be proactive in making sure our schools and administrative sites are safe, clean environments. To keep you fully informed, we have included the complete list of the 35 sites and the scheduled testing dates.
Thank you for choosing CMS and please know that we are committed to providing a safe, healthy environment in every school and administrative site. This voluntary and proactive water testing is part of that commitment.
Sincerely, Dr. Clayton WilcoxSuperintendent
