Benton Harbor Area Schools says samples at its six buildings districtwide have found elevated levels of lead in 30 water fixtures. However, none of them have been in use for a while. The district on Friday released a report on its lead testing. It says it’s been following a strict standard of five parts per billion for lead detection. That’s compared to the federal action level of 15 parts per billion. Tests at Benton Harbor Area Schools varied from 5.5 parts per billion to 290. The district says it’s been providing bottled water to students and staff since last year. It adds the “raised lead levels are attributed to water sitting inside the plumbing longer than usual due to the inactivity of the fixture.”
