Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. OUSD water meets one of the strictest standards in the country. The state and federal standards for lead in water are that lead levels should not exceed 15 parts per billion (ppb). The District’s standard, however, is three times stricter than the state and federal standards, at 5 ppb. Outlets above the 5 ppb threshold are immediately taken out of service until corrected. Numerous safe, filtered hydration stations are available at every school. 5 ppb is the same standard as the FDA's limit for lead in bottled water.

It is helpful for students to bring their own water bottles. We have found that unique water bottles help students take ownership of their hydration. At the start of the school year, the district purchased 100,000 water bottles to have on hand. 20,000 reusable water bottles were distributed to elementary schools. Having personal bottles helps students access water safely and easily. Many teachers and staff members are developing amazing systems and routines with classes. If you have a working routine that you use at your school, please send it to nilufar.abdul@ousd.org.

*Please ensure that your student’s bottle is clearly marked with their full name.

Yes. Health experts say handwashing is safe because lead is not absorbed through the skin. Stickers at some sinks clarify “Handwashing Only” where appropriate and we are in the process of installing those stickers across all of our classrooms' sinks.

Every school has at least one FloWater or similar water filtration system dispenser per 200 students. Our goal for 2025-26 is to achieve a 1:100 ratio of filtered water sources per student. These water filtration systems include filtering mechanisms that ensure clean drinking water. In most cases, this ensures every grade level area is covered. All FloWater systems were tested, and they all tested not just below 5 ppb, but below 1 ppb, with many testing non-detect for lead. This meets the highest water quality standards and is even lower than the EPA’s standard for bottled water.

Alongside FloWater, many schools also have Elkay water systems. Elkay systems meet or exceed safety standards, with filters changed regularly.

Issues reported from sites include: facility repair updates, updates on filtered hydration station installations, and questions about how to read and understand site reports.

FloWater systems feature a QR code that enables anyone to report issues using a form directly to OUSD’s Buildings and Grounds team or B&G. Once a report is received, it takes approximately 2 days to fix the machine. Additionally, we encourage you to notify your site’s custodian or main office immediately. They will contact the OUSD Water Quality team for servicing by reporting the issues via the QR code.

OUSD custodians are the first line of defense when cleaning and clearing clogs in FloWater systems. They should be checked daily. We have a contract with FloWater to replace their filtration units as needed, and our plumbing shop replaces filters that are inline or part of the Elkay water systems. Contractors have supported with repairs as needed.

Not independently. All dispensers must be approved and installed by OUSD Facilities to ensure safety, warranty compliance, and long-term maintenance. If PTAs or other school partners are interested in supporting this effort, please email Cecilia.CoronadoBlake@ousd.org.

The water quality stickers are designed to be similar to our fire extinguisher stickers. We punch out the date of the most recent test to clearly indicate when the testing was completed on that outlet. You can go to OUSD’s Water Quality website to see your school site’s latest testing results.

As of Summer 2025, districtwide testing was conducted when students and staff were out of school to minimize disruptions to school. Priority retesting is done throughout the year when repairs or replacements are completed. As the Board of Education reviews current board policy, it will set new guidelines on the frequency of water testing in schools. This year was the largest and most comprehensive testing campaign the district has ever conducted, and we plan to continue testing next summer, as well.

This level is one-third of the state and federal level. In 2017, the OUSD’s Board of Education decided to institute the highest protection standard for students and followed San Diego Unified School District, a comparable school district that adopted the same standard. Most school districts in California still adhere to the 15 ppb standard that is set by state and federal policy.

Yes. Testing was completed in 2017–18, in 2023–24, and in 2024-25. The latest round of testing in the summer of 2025 was the most comprehensive yet.

The school leadership is notified via email, and the affected fixture is immediately shut off, labeled out of service, or in some cases, bagged and not used again until replaced or otherwise remediated. Retesting is conducted to confirm safety before turning the water back on.

New testing methods follow EPA guideline 200.8, which provides more comprehensive testing by sampling each drinking water outlet three times to localize the problem. Some fixtures may have developed issues over time, or corrosion in the pipes may have affected readings. Continuous monitoring helps catch changes quickly and allows for the quick completion of any necessary repairs.

Yes. Occasionally, construction debris can collect in faucet screens and cause temporary spikes. To mediate the risk, we flush and retest drinking water outlets near construction sites.

No. Buildings constructed after 2010 use lead-free materials and are not required by law to be tested. OUSD thoroughly tested all sites, including new buildings such as Glenview, to confirm they meet district standards, and every such school passed with no issues. New construction of facilities is an excellent long-term strategy for addressing our water quality issues in OUSD.

Most school kitchens have multiple sinks. Any sink that tests above the standard is taken out of service until it is fixed and retested to meet the standard. In the meantime, the remaining sinks are used for meal preparation and drinking water.

Yes. Nutrition Services staff are currently working with kitchen staff to understand the new systems and to utilize approved and stickered sources for food preparation. There is limited time to train the Nutrition Services staff when they return from summer break, and this will be ongoing.

The public dashboard is expected to launch this fall. The public will be able to view results by school and outlet. We are still inputting data as the retesting results come in. All reports as required by Board policy are posted on the Water Quality webpage.

Principals send school-wide communications whenever elevated levels are found and remediation is underway. In addition, all results are posted on OUSD’s water quality website.

It’s part of our safe water practice. Refillable bottles work seamlessly with FloWater and Elkay stations, and ensure every student has quick access to fresh water at all times. The water dispensers provide a space for students to refill their bottles with high-quality, safe drinking water. Likewise, we have seen a clear increase in water consumption by students since we added our water dispensers.

The Board approved an adjustment to the facilities spending plan that dedicates $20.5 million in one-time funds, from Measure J and Measure Y, to address the issue. This money will be used to conduct testing, replace fixtures across the district, replace piping where infrastructure is failing, and install water filters where needed.

The investment is planned for the next three years, over the life of the Measure Y Bond, with priority projects completed first. We are working to receive matching funds from the State when Proposition 2 develops its guidelines for lead remediation this fall. In addition, the new Facilities Master Plan will include a section on water systems that can be included in any future bonds or long-term district plans.

Safe, clean, healthy water is a fundamental student right. This investment ensures long-term safety for students and staff, and positions OUSD as a responsible and reliable school district.

Share that OUSD exceeds federal and state standards, all unsafe outlets are removed from service, and every school has filtered hydration stations. Direct families to the FAQ, water quality webpage, and our FloWater dashboard which will be accessible through OUSD’s water quality webpage.

We are replacing plumbing in kitchens districtwide, expanding hydration station coverage with the installation of more filtered hydration stations, and moving toward even greater access to clean, safe, filtered water at every site. All major facilities projects will include pipe replacement if the buildings were constructed before 1986. As we continue to develop the Facilities Master plan, we will incorporate a plan to address the water quality issues that are related to our pipes and other infrastructure.

OUSD is a statewide leader and one of the first districts to lower the lead level threshold. Few districts test as comprehensively or hold themselves to as strict a standard. Our 5 ppb threshold sets us apart. A few other districts have followed suit, but many keep their threshold at the state and federal action level of 15 parts per billion. OUSD is actively monitoring other districts’ strategies and plans to improve water quality.

Contact the OUSD Water Quality Team at waterquality@ousd.org or review the upcoming dashboard. We are committed to transparency as we transform our water systems.