Lead in Camden School Fountains

Drinking fountains have been turned off at 14 more city schools because of high lead levels. The schools will receive bottled water for up to three months, district officials said. During this time, the state Department of Environmental Protection will install flushing equipment at 28 schools and conducts follow-up testing.

The equipment, which will cost the state about $140,000, is designed to automatically flush stagnant water and any accumulated lead from pipes. The district's six other schools already have the devices.

Officials blame the problem on Camden's antiquated water system, built when it was common to use lead pipes and pipes with joints soldered with lead. A report released earlier this year by a coalition of community groups found high levels of lead at 21 city schools between 1999 and 2002.

Author: 6 ABC-AP