Drinking Water Lead Testing Program

Providing Safe Drinking Water at All DMPS Schools

Drinking fountain

With more than 3,145 water samples tested, DMPS is working to maintain safe drinking water at all schools.

A top priority at Des Moines Public Schools is the safety and well-being of our students and staff.

With national attention and awareness about lead in drinking water, including reports of elevated levels of lead in school drinking water around the country, DMPS has taken steps to determine if this is an issue in Des Moines and to ensure safe drinking water in our schools.

In April 2016, DMPS began a program to monitor lead levels in school drinking water by working with both an outside testing laboratory as well as Des Moines Water Works. This was the start of regular testing of water in all school buildings.

This initiative began with an initial building screening. The screening began with the collection of samples from hallway drinking fountains, kitchens, nurses’ offices, and selected classrooms throughout all of the district’s school buildings.

Following the initial building screening, sample results were evaluated to determine appropriate response actions. If lead levels above 15 parts per billion (ppb) were found in any school building, the district implemented corrective actions to reduce lead from the building’s drinking water based upon steps recommended by health and environmental experts. This included steps such as replacing equipment or regularly flushing drinking fountains and sinks. DMPS has taken corrective action based on initial testing data and follow-up samples.

DMPS has implemented a plan to regularly test the drinking water at all schools. While such testing is not required by law, DMPS is taking this action to further ensure a healthy environment in our schools. Test results have been received for over 3,145 samples. Sampling data is available upon request.

Please refer to the sections below for testing information from each DMPS school building, the district’s lead in drinking water management plan, and links to additional information about lead and drinking water.


DMPS DRINKING WATER TEST RESULTS

Enter the school name in the search bar below:

School NameAddressSampling DateFixtures Identified >15 ppbAction Status
AGRICULTURE LABORATORY201 SW County Line Rd.Nov. 20160No further action required at this time.
AVIATION LABORATORY201 County Line Rd.July 20160No further action required at this time.
BRODY MIDDLE SCHOOL2501 Park Ave.Nov. 20160No further action required at this time.
BRUBAKER ELEMENTARY2900 E 42nd St.July 20160No further action required at this time.
CALLANAN MIDDLE SCHOOL3010 Center St.July 20160No further action required at this time.
CAPITOL VIEW ELEMENTARY320 E 16th St.July 20160No further action required at this time.
CARVER ELEMENTARY705 E University Ave.July 20160No further action required at this time.
CATTELL ELEMENTARY3101 E 12th St.Dec. 20180No further action required at this time.
CENTRAL ACADEMY1912 Grand Ave.July 20160No further action required at this time.
CENTRAL CAMPUS HIGH SCHOOL
*Results include other
samples taken at 1800 Grand Ave.
1800 Grand Ave.Aug, 20180No further action required at this time.
CENTRAL NUTRITION CENTER1301 2nd Ave.Aug. 20180No further action required at this time.
COWLES MONTESSORI6401 College Ave.Aug. 20180No further action required at this time.
DEAN AVENUE OPERATIONS CENTER1917 Dean Ave.Dec. 20180No further action required at this time.
DOWNTOWN SCHOOL1800 Grand Ave.Dec. 20170No further action required at this time.
EAST HIGH SCHOOL815 E 13th St.July 20160No further action required at this time.
EAST HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS FACILITY815 E 13th St.July 20160No further action required at this time.
EDMUNDS ELEMENTARY950 15th St.July 20160No further action required at this time.
FINDLEY ELEMENTARY3025 Oxford St.Dec. 20180No further action required at this time.
FLEUR DRIVE ADMIN.2100 Fleur Dr.Apr. 20160No further action required at this time.
GARTON ELEMENTARY2820 E 24th St.Mar. 20180No further action required at this time.
GOODRELL MIDDLE SCHOOL3300 E 29th St.Nov. 20160No further action required at this time.
GRAND AVENUE ADMIN.2323 Grand Ave.Nov. 20170No further action required at this time.
GREENWOOD ELEMENTARY316 37th St.Nov. 20170No further action required at this time.
HANAWALT ELEMENTARY225 56th St.Oct. 20180 No further action required at this time.
HARDING MIDDLE SCHOOL203 E Euclid Ave.July 20160 No further action required at this time.
HIATT MIDDLE SCHOOL1430 E University Ave.July 20160No further action required at this time.
HILLIS ELEMENTARY2401 56th St.Dec. 20170 No further action required at this time.
HOOVER HIGH SCHOOL4800 Aurora Ave.April 20160No further action required at this time.
HOOVER HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICSApril 20160No further action required at this time.
HOWE ELEMENTARY2900 Indianola Ave.July 20160No further action required at this time.
HOYT MIDDLE SCHOOL2700 E 42nd St.July 20160No further action required at this time.
HUBBELL ELEMENTARY800 42nd St.Oct. 20180No further action required at this time.
JACKSON ELEMENTARY3825 Indianola Ave.Oct. 20180No further action required at this time.
JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY2425 Watrous Ave.Aug. 20180No further action required at this time.
KING ELEMENTARY1849 Forest Ave.Dec. 20180No further action required at this time.
LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL2600 SW 9th St.Nov. 20170No further action required at this time.
LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS FACILITY2600 SW 9th St.June 20160No further action required at this time.
LINCOLN RAILS1000 Porter Ave.Oct. 20180No further action required at this time.
LINCOLN RAILS ATHLETICS FACILITY1000 Porter Ave.June 20160No further action required at this time.
LOVEJOY ELEMENTARY801 E Kenyon Ave.Nov. 20160No further action required at this time.
MADISON ELEMENTARY806 E Hoffman St.May 20180No further action required at this time.
MANN EDUCATION CENTER1001 Amos Ave.Nov. 20170No further action required at this time.
McCOMBS MIDDLE SCHOOL201 SW County Line Rd.July 20160No further action required at this time.
MCKEE EDUCATION CENTER2116 E 39th Ct.Aug. 20160 No further action required at this time.
McKINLEY ELEMENTARY1610 SE 6th St.Oct. 20180No further action required at this time.
MEREDITH MIDDLE SCHOOL4827 Madison Ave.July 20160No further action required at this time.
MERRILL MIDDLE SCHOOL5301 Grand Ave.Oct. 20180No further action required at this time.
MITCHELL EARLY LEARNING CENTER111 Porter Ave.July 20160 No further action required at this time.
MONROE ELEMENTARY3015 Francis Ave.Aug. 20160No further action required at this time.
MOORE ELEMENTARY3716 50th St.Dec. 20170No further action required at this time.
MORRIS ELEMENTARY1401 Geil Ave.Aug. 20160No further action required at this time.
MOULTON ELEMENTARY1541 8th St.Dec. 20180No further action required at this time.
NORTH HIGH SCHOOL501 Holcomb Ave.Dec. 20183Restroom fixtures to be replaced, follow-up sampling to be completed.
NORTH HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS FACILITY501 Holcomb Ave.April 20160No further action required at this time.
OAK PARK ELEMENTARY3928 6th Ave.Dec. 20180No further action require at this time
PARK AVENUE ELEMENTARY3141 SW 9th St.Nov. 20160No further action required at this time.
PERKINS ELEMENTARY4301 College Ave.Oct. 20180No further action required at this time.
PHILLIPS ELEMENTARY1701 Lay St.Nov. 20170No further action required at this time.
PLEASANT HILL ELEMENTARY4801 E Oakwood Dr.Dec. 20180No further action required at this time.
PROSPECT ROAD FACILITY1915 Prospect Rd.July 20160No further action required at this time.
RIVER WOODS ELEMENTARY2929 SE 22nd St.July 20160No further action required at this time.
ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL4419 Center St.July 20160No further action required at this time.
RUBY VAN METER SCHOOL710 28th St.July 20160No further action required at this time.
SAMUELSON ELEMENTARY3929 Bel Aire Rd.June 20180No further action required at this time.
SCAVO HIGH SCHOOL
*Results include other
samples taken at 1800 Grand Ave.
1800 Grand Ave.Aug. 20180No further action required at this time.
SMOUSE OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL2820 Center St.May 20180 No further action required at this time.
SOUTH UNION ELEMENTARY4201 South Union St.Nov. 20170No further action required at this time.
STOWE ELEMENTARY1411 E 33rd St.Nov. 20170No further action required at this time.
STUDEBAKER ELEMENTARY300 E County Line Rd.Nov. 20170No further action required at this time.
TAYLOR EDUCATION CENTER1801 16th St.July 20160No further action required at this time.
WALKER STREET1421 Walker Street July 20160No further action required at this time.
WALNUT STREET SCHOOL901 Walnut St.May 20181Restroom fixture replaced, laboratory results pending.
WEEKS MIDDLE SCHOOL901 E Park Ave.July 20160 No further action required at this time.
WILLARD ELEMENTARY2941 Dean Ave.Dec. 20180No further action required at this time.
WINDSOR ELEMENTARY5912 University Ave.Aug. 20160No further action required at this time.
WOODLAWN EDUCATION CENTER4000 Lower Beaver Rd.Nov. 20170No further action required at this time.
WRIGHT ELEMENTARY5001 SW 14th St.Aug. 20160No further action required at this time.

NOTE: Sampling data is available upon request.


DMPS LEAD TESTING PROTOCOL

Following guidelines established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and working closely with our partners at Des Moines Water Works, DMPS is following a strict protocol to test school drinking water for lead.  A summary of the steps in the process include:

  1. Gather the initial sample and test results.
  2. All results less than 15 parts per billion (ppb): no further action is required until the next scheduled testing.
  3. If there are any results from a building with a concentration more than 15 ppb, a flush sample will be collected and tested from every location with an initial test result greater than 15 ppb.
  4. If results of the second sample are less than 15 ppb, corrective actions will be implemented which may include, but are not limited to: fixture replacement; termination of service to a fixture; implementation of a fixture-flushing program; and completion of a full-building drinking water survey.
  5. If results of the flush sample are greater than 15 ppb, corrective actions will be implemented and follow-up sampling will be completed to confirm effectiveness of the measures taken. A full-building drinking water survey will be completed.

Click here to read about the DMPS Water Monitoring Action Plan.


ONGOING WATER MONITORING SCHEDULE

All DMPS buildings and schools are monitored on a rolling five-year schedule as follows:

  • YEAR ONE: Central Campus/Downtown School, Central Nutrition Center, Cowles, Garton, Greenwood, Hillis, Jefferson, Madison, Moore, Phillips, Samuelson, Smouse, Stowe, Studebaker, Walnut Street
  • YEAR TWO: Cattell, Operations (Dean Avenue), Findley, Hanawalt, Hubbell, Jackson, King, Kurtz Opportunity Center, McKinley, Merrill, Moulton, North, North High Outdoor Athletics, Oak Park, Perkins, Pleasant Hill, Willard
  • YEAR THREE: 2100 Fleur, Callanan, Central Academy, East, Harding, Hiatt, Hoover, Hoover High Outdoor Athletics, Hoyt, McCombs, Meredith, Prospect, Roosevelt, Roosevelt Outdoor Athletics, Van Meter, Walker Street, Weeks, Welcome Center
  • YEAR FOUR: Aviation Lab, Brubaker, Capital View, Carver, Edmunds, Howe, McKee, Mitchell, Monroe, Morris, River Woods, Taylor, Windsor, Wright
  • YEAR FIVE: Agricultural Lab, Brody, East High School Outdoor Athletics, Goodrell, Lincoln, Lincoln High Outdoor Athletics, Lincoln RAILS Outdoor Athletics, Lovejoy, Park Avenue, South Union, Woodlawn

NOTE: Schedule is subject to change based upon programming and sampling results.


ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

The following local and national organizations provide helpful information about lead and drinking water:

  • Des Moines Water Works: DMWW is the provider of water service to all school district facilities. Their web site includes information about how Des Moines works to reduce lead in drinking water as well as suggestions on how to reduce exposure to elevated levels of lead.
  • U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The CDC offers information about the health effects of lead as well as tips on how to reduce and avoid exposure.
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: The EPA provides a wide range of information about lead in water supplies along with advice on how to reduce and avoid exposure.