By Kathryn Reed

Schools in Lake Tahoe Unified School District are going to have their water tested for lead per a voluntary initiative put forth by the state Department of Water Resources.

The water purveyor for a particular district must provide the testing to the schools at no charge. The school districts must ask the water company to do the testing, it’s not automatic.

Terry Powers, laboratory manager for South Tahoe Public Utility District, told the board earlier this week that LTUSD has contacted him and will be sending a formal letter seeking the water tests.

“We are required to take five samples at each school. Sites have to be the most highly used stations,” Powers said.

While Al Tahoe, Tahoe Valley and South Tahoe Middle schools either use wells or Lukins water, STPUD will be testing at those sites as well.

Most schools are not regularly required to test for lead. In the wake of what happened in Michigan, state officials wanted to ensure water being consumed by schoolchildren was lead free. Districts, though, do not have to test now if they don’t want to.

LTUSD did not respond to questions asking why it chose to go forward with the testing.

If an issue is discovered, it will be up to the school district to fix it.

The testing is expected to be done this school year. Results will be public information.