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State urges all Utah schools to test water systems for lead after detecting contamination

After voluntary spot testing, drinking water at 10 Utah schools found to exceed EPA guidelines; dozens more contain poisonous lead below the federal limit<br>

(Al Hartmann  | Tribune file photo) A school official taking water samples from a hallway drinking fountain in early 2016. An orange residue had been discovered on the school's toilets, prompting the school to test for contamination from metals such as iron, copper and lead in the drinking water. In 2017 state officials asked several Utah school districts to conduct voluntary lead tests. A high incidence of elevated lead levels in those initial samples has prompted state officials to urge testing at all schools statewide.

(Al Hartmann | Tribune file photo) A school official taking water samples from a hallway drinking fountain in early 2016. An orange residue had been discovered on the school's toilets, prompting the school to test for contamination from metals such as iron, copper and lead in the drinking water. In 2017 state officials asked several Utah school districts to conduct voluntary lead tests. A high incidence of elevated lead levels in those initial samples has prompted state officials to urge testing at all schools statewide.