Four Water Fountains in Bangor Schools Found To Have High Lead Levels

Bangor school officials on Thursday said they have been informed that four water fountains -- two at Fourteenth Street School and two at Bangor High School -- have trace amounts of lead higher than EPA guidelines.

In a letter sent home to parents on Thursday, Superintendent of Schools Betsy Webb said the fountains have been taken out of service until further testing can be done.

Webb stressed that the water source for the schools does not exceed EPA guidelines for lead. The likely cause of the contamination, she said, is from older pipes that provide water to these locations.

She said once the cause has been determined, the school department will work with the Bangor Water District as "quickly as possible to address the issue, which may include installing filters or replacing equipment."