New Report Finds Nearly Half Of Montana Schools’ Water With Excessive Lead Levels

Of the 222 Montana schools that had turned in water samples by mid-February Kaiser Health News reports 110 had at least one water fixture with lead levels higher than 15 parts per billion. Montana Correspondent Katheryn Houghton reports a new state rule requires those fixtures be immediately be shut off. For many finding the money to fix the problem will be a challenge and there are few options. They can compete for a dwindling pool of state money seek federal aid passed last year or add the repairs to their long lists of capital improvement projects and pay for the work themselves.