Health Concerns Found SCHOOL DISTRICT PFAS DETECTED

District of Columbia Public Schools (DC): 3 Health Violations

57 ZIP codes · 2 water systems · 632,323 people served

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA drinking-water data for District of Columbia Public Schools: 3 health-based violations on record in the past five years.

Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0, EPA SDWIS and UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData, NCES

N/A
Avg Safety Score (0 ZIP)
57
ZIP Codes
2
Water Systems
173
Violations (5yr) (36 ZIP)
0.002 mg/L
Avg Lead Level
36
ZIPs with PFAS

Why School Water Quality Matters

Children drink 2–4× more water per pound of body weight than adults, making them more vulnerable to contaminants. School water quality affects students for hours every weekday.

Home Safety and Water Evidence Overview

The District of Columbia Public Schools in District of Columbia spans 57 ZIP codes. This materialization has canonical Home Safety Scores for 0 ZIP records and typed EPA water violation counts for 36 ZIP records. Missing evidence is not treated as zero.

The deduplicated primary-system served-population sum is 632,323 across 1 water systems. This is not the district resident population.

Water quality in this district ranks better than 50% of ZIP codes nationally.

Why This Matters for Children

Children are more vulnerable to water contaminants than adults. The EPA and CDC identify these key risks:

  • Lead exposure - Even low levels of lead can affect brain development, reduce IQ, and cause behavioral problems in children. There is no safe level of lead for children.
  • PFAS ("forever chemicals") - Linked to immune system effects and developmental delays in children. Children drink more water relative to body weight than adults.
  • Nitrate - Dangerous for infants (can cause "blue baby syndrome"). Agricultural areas often have elevated nitrate.
  • Disinfection byproducts - Long-term exposure may increase cancer risk. School water fountains often have stagnant water that concentrates these compounds.

Lead Levels in the District

Metric Value EPA Threshold
Average lead level (90th percentile) 0.002 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
Highest lead level 0.002 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
ZIP records exceeding EPA action level 0 of 36 with known status -

PFAS Contamination

PFAS ("forever chemicals") detected in 36 ZIP records in this district. The aggregate does not treat ZIP records without PFAS evidence as tested negatives.

Detected compounds: PFBA, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFBS.

Highest measured level: 0.007 µg/L.

PFAS can accumulate in the body over time. Children's higher water intake relative to body weight makes them particularly susceptible. Reverse osmosis filters (NSF/ANSI 58) are the most effective at removing PFAS.

Learn more about PFAS in drinking water →

EPA Violation History

3 health-based violations recorded across 36 ZIP records with known health counts in the past 5 years. 36 of 36 ZIP records with known total counts have at least one violation.

Contaminants of Concern

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based ZIPs Affected
E. coli Microbiological 80 Yes 36
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting 78 No 36
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Technique 4 No 1
Lead Inorganic 3 No 1
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Technique 2 No 1
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Technique 2 No 1
Copper Inorganic 1 No 1
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 1 No 1

Water Facts and Home Safety Score by ZIP Code

ZIP Code City Home Safety Score EPA Violations Health Lead Level Exceeds?
20032 Washington N/A 33 3 0.002 mg/L No
20001 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20002 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20003 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20004 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20005 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20006 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20007 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20008 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20009 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20010 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20011 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20012 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20015 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20016 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20017 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20018 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20019 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20020 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20024 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20036 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20037 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20052 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20057 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20059 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20064 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20240 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20260 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20317 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20319 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20373 Naval Anacost Annex N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20388 Washington Navy Yard N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20415 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20422 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20542 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20566 Washington N/A 4 0 0.002 mg/L No
20045 Washington N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20204 Washington N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20220 Washington N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20230 Washington N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20245 Washington N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20250 Washington N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20390 Washington N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20408 Washington N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20418 Washington N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20427 Washington N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20431 Washington N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20510 Washington N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20515 Washington N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20520 Washington N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20530 Washington N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20535 Washington N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20540 Washington N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20551 Washington N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20560 Washington N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20565 Washington N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20591 Washington N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

What Parents Can Do

  1. Request lead testing at your child's school - The EPA's 3Ts program (Training, Testing, Taking Action) provides guidance for schools. Ask your school board about their water testing schedule.
  2. Review the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) - Your water utility publishes this annually. It details all detected contaminants.
  3. Test your home's water - Especially if your home has older plumbing (pre-1986) that may contain lead solder or lead pipes.
  4. Address PFAS - If PFAS are detected in your area, a reverse osmosis or activated carbon block filter rated NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 can reduce levels significantly.
  5. Pack water from home - If you're concerned about school water quality, send your child with a water bottle filled at home (filtered if possible).
  6. Stay informed - Bookmark this page to check for updates on water quality in your school district.

Need help with school water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the water safe in District of Columbia Public Schools schools?

EPA system-level records associated with District of Columbia Public Schools show 3 health-based violations across 36 ZIP records with known health counts. These records do not measure individual school taps. Parents should request current building-level testing results from the school district.

Does District of Columbia Public Schools test for lead in school water?

Federal law does not require schools to test for lead in drinking water (except in some states with specific mandates). The EPA's voluntary 3Ts program encourages testing. Contact your school district office to ask about their testing schedule and results.

What level of lead is safe for children?

There is no safe level of lead for children, according to the CDC. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L (15 ppb) triggers corrective action for water systems, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that school water contain no more than 0.001 mg/L (1 ppb).

Are there PFAS in District of Columbia Public Schools water?

Yes, PFAS have been detected in 36 ZIP records associated with this district. ZIP records without PFAS evidence are not counted as tested negatives. PFAS are "forever chemicals" that do not break down and can accumulate in the body. The EPA has set maximum contaminant levels for certain PFAS compounds.

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Home → School Districts → District of Columbia → District of Columbia Public Schools

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). District of Columbia Public Schools (DC): 3 Health Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/schools/district-of-columbia-public-schools-dc/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-schools-district-of-columbia-public-schools-dc,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{District of Columbia Public Schools (DC): 3 Health Violations}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/schools/district-of-columbia-public-schools-dc/}
}
Violations found - check filter options Free tool - no phone call required.