CMS testing all sources of water at 58 elementary, K-8 schools

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The water at 58 Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools will undergo water testing to make sure it is safe.

School officials sent out letters to parents, guardians and faculty to alert them about the testing.

The letter said the district will begin voluntary testing of all sources of water intended for drinking, food preparation or cooking in 58 schools.

[LIST of 58 schools undergoing water testing]

The letter went on to say that the test will screen for lead and copper in the water.

CMS officials said six states have required water testing in schools and North Carolina isn't one of them, but they said they wanted to do it anyway to be proactive.

"No issues have been found or are suspected, but we want to be proactive so we are testing now, instead of waiting for the problem to occur," CMS officials said in the letter.

Officials said the schools were chosen for testing based on age and enrollment. They said all 58 schools being tested are elementary or K-8 schools because water issues are most likely to affect younger students.

AECOM, an environmental consulting firm in SouthPark, was hired to conduct the water testing.

Channel 9 was told that testing began in late September and more than 90 percent of the schools have already been tested.

CMS officials said they plan to share the results of what they find when all the testing is finished.

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