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2022-2023 Campus Drinking Water Lead Testing

In November 2022, NCCU implemented a voluntary program to test campus drinking water for the presence of lead and mitigate lead levels in potable water sources that test above a pre-determined actionable level. 

Throughout this process, we commit to full transparency, including sharing information about our process, progress, results and mitigation steps taken.

Lead is a toxic metal that can cause adverse health effects for children and adults when consumed. “Exposure” in drinking water occurs when people consume water that contains lead through drinking or food preparation. It is important to know that lead is not absorbed through the skin so handwashing, showering, laundry and dishwashing do not pose the same risk as drinking or food preparation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exposure to lead even at levels near the EPA action level alone would not likely elevate blood lead levels in most adults. However, some individuals are at risk for high blood pressure, kidney disease, stroke and memory problems due to lead overexposure, and children under the age of six are most at risk from overexposure to lead. In children, exposure can cause behavioral issues, learning disabilities, hearing impairment, low IQ and poor classroom performance. Pregnant women and their fetuses are also vulnerable to lead exposure, as high levels can harm the fetus, causing lower birth weight and slow mental and physical development.

NCCU Drinking Water Testing Program

  • Testing was conducted in all buildings with drinking water sources built prior to 1989 between November 21, 2022, and December 16, 2022. A 1986 amendment to the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 significantly decreased the amount of lead allowed in pipe and solder in plumbing used for drinking water systems.
  • Additional testing may occur at a later date if deemed necessary.
  • Testing was conducted in four phases based on building age, with the oldest buildings tested first.
  • After testing, water sources were taken out of service pending results.  This does not mean that the water contains lead — only that we have chosen to leave sources out of service until we have received the testing results.
  • While the EPA uses 15 parts per billion (ppb) as the actionable level for lead in drinking water, NCCU has chosen to be more conservative and use 10 ppb as our actionable level.
  • After results are received by EHS
    • Drinking water fixtures with lead levels below the actionable level will be placed back in service and signage will be removed.
    • Water sources that tested at or above the actionable limit will remain out of service until they can be remediated and retested.  They will not be returned to service until testing confirms lead levels are below the actionable level.
  • Drinking water will remain available within each building.

This sign is placed to notify students, employees, and visitors that water sources are out of use due to either pending test results or repair. This sign does not necessarily mean there is lead in the water, only that we are taking every precaution for the safety of all Eagles.

Out of Order - This water source is temporarily out of order. Pending voluntary testing results or pending repairs. Alternate drinking water sources have been provided on each occupied floor of the building. Please call 919-530-7125 or email ehs@nccu.edu if you have any questions.

Please visit these links for more information:

Results

While the EPA uses 15 parts per billion (ppb) as the actionable level for lead in drinking water, NCCU has chosen to be more conservative and use 10 ppb as our actionable level.

FAQs

NCCU has chosen to test campus drinking water on a voluntary basis as a means of ensuring that we are providing safe drinking water to our students, faculty, staff and visitors. There are no federal or state regulations requiring colleges and universities to test for lead in drinking water sources. 

NCCU is testing water fixtures used primarily for drinking and preparing food in buildings built prior to 1986 when federal regulations became prohibitive of lead in plumbing fixtures. These include drinking fountains, water bottle filling stations, kitchen sinks, breakroom sinks and potable ice makers.

Testing is the only way to identify lead in drinking water — you cannot see, smell or taste lead in the water.

NCCU is testing all buildings built prior to 1986 in a phased approach beginning with the oldest buildings first.

Every effort will be made to maintain lead levels in drinking water as low as reasonably achievable.  NCCU will use an actionable level of 10 ppb (parts per billion) to determine which sources require mitigation.

  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set an action level for lead in public drinking water at 15 ppb — for comparison, this is about the same as a teaspoon of sugar in over 2 million gallons of water.
  • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration caps the lead level in bottled water at 5 ppb.
  • American National Standards Institute requires certified water filters to remove down to 10 ppb. 

When plumbing materials that contain lead corrode, lead is released into the water.  The most common sources of lead in drinking water are lead pipes, faucets and fixtures. Lead pipes are more likely to be found in older cities and buildings built before 1986.

Health effects from exposure to lead are influenced by several factors including the age of the individual, the blood lead level and length of exposure.
    
Young children, infants and fetuses are particularly vulnerable to lead because the physical and behavioral effects of lead occur at lower exposure levels in children than in adults. In children, low levels of exposure have been linked to damage to the central and peripheral nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing, and impaired formation and function of blood cells.

Lead can cross the placental barrier and expose the fetus to lead. This can result in serious effects to the mother and her developing fetus, including reduced fetal growth and premature birth. Lead can also be transmitted through breast milk.

Adults exposed to lead can suffer from cardiovascular effects, increased blood pressure and incidence of hypertension as well as decreased kidney function and reproductive issues.
 

All results from drinking water testing will be reported on the EHS Drinking Water testing website.  In addition, building managers will be provided with results to be posted in the building and distributed to all building occupants. For residence halls, results will be provided to area coordinators for posting and distribution.

The half-life of lead in the blood is approximately 30–60 days.  As such, blood lead level testing assesses recent lead exposure.

The Elkay® WaterSentry® Plus filter used in water bottle-filling stations across campus is certified and tested to reduce soluble and particulate lead to 5 µg/L or 5 ppb. The associated drinking fountains are not filtered by the same filters. Both the filling stations and the drinking fountains are being tested as part of the drinking water testing program.

This depends on multiple factors, including how quickly we can get replacement parts delivered. The extent of the mitigation will also determine the time needed to complete the job. However, we are working as efficiently and quickly as possible to repair and replace these fixtures.

Skin does not absorb lead from water, so restroom sinks and showers can still be used for washing hands and showering.  In addition, washing laundry and dishwashing with complete drying is also acceptable and safe.