Nearly 75 fixtures across the Bellevue School District had water with higher lead levels than recommended by the district’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s action thresholds, the district reported Monday.

Roughly 72 of the water fixtures in Bellevue schools yielded lead levels that were at or above so-called “action levels” set by the district and the EPA. Water from 43 of those fixtures contained 20 or more parts per billion (ppb) of lead, which is the level at which the EPA recommends remedial action. Another 29 water sources tested at or above 15 ppb, which is the district-set threshold.

District-wide, 98 percent of the 3,109 tested water samples were in compliance, the district reported.

After reports surfaced in the spring that there was unacceptable levels of lead in Bellevue schools’ drinking water, the district decided to test all potable water sources (water suitable for drinking) in district schools as a precautionary measure.

Following the district’s release of testing results, some parents questioned the district’s seemingly slow release of information regarding the water testing.

The district sent out a letter to parents Nov. 7 informing them of the findings and directing them to a website for more information. On that website, they apologized for the delay in the testing results.

“Multiple factors were at play, including staffing for this project and a longer than normal wait time as state-certified labs were inundated with test samples from multiple agencies,” according to the website.

Every water fountain, ice machine, bathroom sink, staff and classroom sink, kitchen prep faucet, water bottle station and instant hot water faucet, as well as every hose bib where an athlete might fill their water bottle was tested, according to the district. Sinks labeled “non-potable” indicating the water is not suitable for drinking, custodial closet sinks, dedicated dishwashing equipment and sinks and specialized hand washing areas not affiliated with food preparation were not tested.

Fixtures that contained water with more than 15 ppb of lead were immediately taken out of service. Those fixtures are then replaced with lead-free materials and re-tested before being put into operation.

The district also reported that they are setting a new process for regularly testing their water.

“We are in the process of establishing a testing cycle that will include random testing throughout the district and a focus on sites where fixtures have previously tested out of compliance,” they stated.